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  • Lagos bishop bags life jail for raping assistant pastor

    Lagos bishop bags life jail for raping assistant pastor

    • Sentenced three years for sexual assault

    Justice Rahman Oshodi of an Ikeja Special Offences Court has sentenced the founder of “I Reign Christian Ministry”, Lekki, Lagos, Bishop Oluwafeyiropo Daniels, to life imprisonment for raping a female assistant pastor of his church (name withheld).

    Justice Oshodi also sentenced the 43-year-old bishop to three years imprisonment for sexually assaulting another member of his church aged 19 years.

    Delivering judgment in the matter yesterday, the judge held that the prosecution has established the ingredients of rape and sexual assault against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.

    “The cleric should spend the rest of his life at the Kirikiri custodial facility,” the judge ordered.

    According to him, the evidence of the first prosecution witness was corroborated with that of the third witness.

    The judge, however, discharged and acquitted the bishop of rape of another survivor (name withheld) on the grounds that there was an element of consent on her part.

    The judge held that the convict had no regard for truth and that he committed the offences by using his dominant character and position as a clergy.

    “Oluwafeyiropo Daniels, you are hereby found guilty and convicted of sexually violating two women who were members of your church.

    “The first one you raped ferociously and caused her so much pain.

    “The second, you sexually assaulted using your dominant character and position as a clergy.

    “These offences are grievous, as rape attracts life imprisonment while sexual assault is punishable with three years imprisonment.”

    Although the defence counsel, Adebayo Adegbite, in his allocutors urged the court to use its discretion in sentencing the bishop, the judge held that the Lagos State law has a mandatory sentence for rape.

    “Due to the seriousness and the ferocity of the attack on his victims, accordingly I sentence you as follows:

    “On count one I sentence you to life imprisonment.

    “On count three I sentence you to three years imprisonment and you shall also serve your term in the maximum security custodial centre where you are currently being held,” he said.

    Oshodi said that the sentencing should run concurrently while the name of the convict should be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

    The defence counsel, in his allocutus, had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

    Adegbite told the court that the convict was a first time offender and that he had no previous criminal record.

    He said the convict was the bread winner of his family and urged the judge to use his direction in sentencing.

    The state prosecution team, led by Babajide Boye, however, urged the court to convict the bishop as charged.

    The prosecution had called five witnesses while defence also called five witnesses during trial through whom various documents were tendered in evidence.

    Boye submitted that the convict raped his assistant pastor in his home in Ikota Villa Estate sometime in June 2020.

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    He also said the convict sexually assaulted one of his church members by forcibly sucking and touching her breast sometimes in April 2021 at the church office in Ikeja.

    In May last year, the cleric had been remanded in court for allegedly raping a 25-year-old woman at his Lekki residence.

    The church member had told the court that the cleric had sex with her during a prayer session while he was speaking in tongues.

    Born on May 6, 1980, Daniel is married to his heartthrob, Pastor Awele Feyi-Daniels and their marriage is blessed with two boys.

    He started Gnosis Business School now known as Evolve Business School in 2006. And in the year 2019, he founded the Kings Academy.

    According to him, he consulted for many international corporations such as Chevron, Intercontinental Bank, Skye Bank, and the Edo State Government.

    Daniel, the founder of IReign Christian Ministry, which has centres across the globe, is also a philanthropist and runs a foundation, the BFD Foundation, where he partners with educational organisations to provide access to quality education and celebrate academic excellence among the younger generation.

    In the build up to the 2023 polls, he trended on social media for making prophecies about the outcome of the elections.

    He became popular after his controversial prediction about the presidential election.

    In his failed prophecy, he had predicted the arrest of President Bola Tinubu on the day of his inauguration, saying that Peter Obi, who ranked third in the election, would eventually become President.

  • Bishop backs creation of state police

    The Archbishop of Lagos Province and Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Mainland of the African Church, the Most Reverend Julius Ogunseye, has expressed support for creation of state police, saying it will fix the nation’s security challenges.

    The clergyman also urged Nigerians to embrace peace, noting that only a peaceful atmosphere can aid the rapid development of the country.

    Ogunseye made the remarks in a sermon he delivered on Easter Sunday at the African Church Salem Cathedral, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

    He said: “As a nation let us always embrace peace. I heard in the news yesterday that about 11 people were killed leaving several injured in Makurdi, Benue State while they were in the church by unknown gunmen.

    “I am appealing to our federal government to enact the laws that will allow the creation of state police. We are not safe again in this country.’’

    The clergyman also called for the retraining of policemen as way of curbing or reducing their unprofessional conduct on duty and extra-judicial killing of citizens.

    ‘’Our police officers need to go for retraining. Our police colleges must be restructured. It seems there is a huge gap between the training from the colleges and the real life situation.

    ‘’In Nigeria today, if you make a mistake instead of our police to correct you, they will always want to capitalise on your error and will want to extort you.

    “The way our police do go about extra judicial killings these days is becoming totally unacceptable.

    ‘’Also, the way our brothers and sisters are being killed in Diaspora looks like we do not have recognition in the international scene or we do not have external affairs ministry.”

  • Bishop to business owners: fear God

    The Bishop of the Diocese of Ife, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Olubunmi Akinlade has called on Christian businessmen and women to fear God.

    He urged them to promote values that will breed transparency, faithfulness and truthfulness.

    The cleric stated this in his presidential address at the just concluded 1st Session of the 10th Synod of the Diocese at the Cathedral Church of St. Philip, Ayetoro, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    The visibly disturbed Diocesan charged Christians to promote saintliness and act as salt in a morally decaying society where integrity and business ethics had been relegated to the background.

    Quoting copiously from the scriptures to buttress his points, Akinlade asked Christians in public service to shun evil practice in all ramifications and contribute significantly to the fight against corruption.

    He warned of divine judgment on those who perpetrate such ungodliness in whatever form as it contradicts the principles of godliness and fair dealing with neighbours.

    He said: “When you observe the way in which we who call ourselves Christians do business in our country. Corruption is the order of the day.

    “It ranges from holding back workers’ wages under different disguise, poor or nonexistence workers welfare package, embezzlement, using bank loans to finance lifestyle and using dishonest scales of various forms.

  • Bishop seeks slash of allowances, salaries for elected officials

    General Overseer of Rhema Christian Church & Towers Ota, Ogun State Bishop Taiwo Akinola has advocated for massive slash of allowances and salaries of elected officials to cater for the escalating infrastructural needs across the nation.

    He said it was unfair and wicked that while millions of Nigerians languish in utter lacks with little or no access to basic necessities, the nation’s political elites were busy overfed with bogus salaries and allowances.

    Akinola spoke with reporters last week ahead of the Rhema World Convention of the church, which begins today with the theme walking in dominion.

    The convention, which ends next Sunday, will feature ace gospel artistes as well as invited ministers with participants expected from branches of the church worldwide.

    Akinola, a former lecturer, said: “The allowances for elected officials should be reduced so that there would be little or no desperation for election.

    “No senator should earn more than a professor. The bogus allowances of elected officials should be slashed so that election can truly become a vehicle for selfless service.”

    He lamented the spate of insecurity and killing across the nation, saying it was obvious government was failing in its primary responsibility to the citizens.

    “Any government that cannot protect its citizens has failed. It is a primary responsibility and the main reason why government exists.

    “Security is the number one responsibility of elected government anywhere in the world,” he stressed, pointing out the level of killings and kidnapping in the nation were unbecoming.

    On the anti-corruption war, he commended government for the recovered looted funds but called for subjection of members of the ruling party and opposition to the same level of scrutiny and prosecution over corrupt practices.

    “We challenge government to prove that the anti-corruption war is not selective. Situations where manifestly corrupt individuals on one side are spared and those on the other side are hounded are condemnable.”

    Akinola assured the convention will usher participants into a realm of absolute dominion in all facets of their lives.

  • Four years under Fayose unfruitful, says Bishop

    The Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rev. Christopher Tayo Omotunde, has described the tenure of former Governor Ayo Fayose as “four wasted years”.

    Omotunde regretted that rather than move forward, Ekiti retrogressed under the former governor.

    The cleric said the state urgently needs repairs, resuscitation and rejuvenation to put it back on the right track.

    He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a golden chance to make a difference in the lives of Ekiti residents but abused the opportunity to the extent that the people became slaves under them.”

    The cleric warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to learn from the mistakes of the immediate past government and never disappoint the masses looking up to it for good governance and redemption.

    Omotunde spoke yesterday at a thanksgiving service in honour of Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    The bishop said Fayose’s unrelenting criticisms and opposition to President Muhammadu Buhari denied Ekiti many benefits while other PDP governors attracted projects to their states and got financial support from the Federal Government because of their good relationship with the President.

  • Reasons for bad leadership, by Kolade, Bishop, ex-UNILAG VC

    Reasons for bad leadership, by Kolade, Bishop, ex-UNILAG VC

    Former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr Christopher Kolade has blamed citizens for bad leadership in Nigeria.

    Kolade said many Nigerians have forgotten values.

    He was the Chairman at a symposium of The Venerable Henry Johnson Foundation for Theology and Social Transformation, held in Surulere, Lagos, Mainland, yesterday, with the theme, “An antidote to a defective leadership”.

    Kolade said: “A leader is expected to represent and serve the people; why should I be paid to vote someone to serve me; should it not be the other way round? Our constitution only says the Nigerian leaders should have educational requirement, but did not insist that they have passed the exam. There is also the age requirement and the political party to sponsor. No requirement of track record performance. We followers must take a lead to define what we want in the constitution and we must begin to make the leaders accountable for them. We followers have something in us that we can apply to help defective leadership get better.”

    The Rt Revd Akinpelu Johnson, Bishop of the Dioceses of Lagos Mainland (Anglican Communion), noted that followers in Nigeria have a say to determine who leads them. “There must be a system to hold our leaders accountable. The essence of this symposium is to promote theological research into provision of good governance in Nigeria.”

    Former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Ibidapo Obe, noted that “if we will make progress in Nigeria, the country must be merit based and not on whom you know”.

    He said it is the responsibility or leaders to develop their followers.

    “Leaders need to sustain and mentor the followers. A leader must have knowledge and passion of seeing a transformation in the followers. A leader must be self-regulated,” he said.

    To former Deputy Governor of Lagos State Mrs Sarah Sosan, all Nigerians are to blame for whatever is wrong in the society.

    “All Nigerians have a role to play in effective leadership in the country. We should be able to manage him or herself well, must be competent, committed, take responsibility and be a thinker.

    “Followers must be focused, have discretion and the courage to call the leader to order. Nigerians must be able to put away sentiment and ensure things are done aright. Many of us do not talk or question our leaders because of the benefits we derive from them,” she said.

  • Bishop calls for service to humanity

    The Bishop of Osogbo Diocese of Catholic Church, Bishop John Oyejola, has urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of service to humanity.

    The cleric said this is the only lasting legacy they can bequeath to the society and the best form of faith and worship before God.

    Oyejola spoke at the inauguration of Centenary Auditorium of Saint Nicholas Pro-Cathedral at Otan-Ayegbaju in Osun State.

    It was donated by an illustrious son of the community, Prof Olu Aina.

    Oyejola, who urged Nigerians to always give back to their communities, noted that the donor of the project had remained committed to development of his community and the vineyard of God.

    The cleric said the new auditorium would aid the work of God in the Catholic family.

    Also, the Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese of Catholic Church, Bishop Gabriel Abegunrin Prof Aina was a humble man who cultivated the habit of using his wealth and influence in the service of man and God.

    Prof Aina said the project was part of his family’s contributions to humanity, having benefitted from Catholic Church in the development of the project.

    He said the auditorium would boost the revenue base of the church, adding that it should be well maintained to prolong its lifespan.

  • Joy as Owan gets first indigenous Anglican bishop

    Joy as Owan gets first indigenous Anglican bishop

    There was jubilation in Sabongida-Ora Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, in Owan West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Reverend Augustine Ehijimetor Ohilebo was enthroned as its first indigenous bishop in accordance with the tradition of the Anglican Communion.

    Some young members, who were witnessing the enthronement of an Anglican bishop for the first time, were thrilled at the observance of the church’s traditional rules.

    The process began with the bishop knocking three times on the west door of the St. John Sabongida-Ora Cathedral with his pastoral staff seeking to come inside to give thanks to the Lord.

    He informed the cathedral warden, who opened the door, that he had been elected, confirmed and consecrated bishop of the cathedral.

    Archbishop of old Bendel Province and Supervisory Bishop of the cathedral, Reverend Friday John Imaekhai, demanded that the mandate of the Archbishop and Primate of All Nigeria, Reverend Nicholas Okoh, introducing Ohilebo as the elected bishop of Sabongida- Ora Diocese, be read.

    It was read by Francis Okanigbuan, registrar of the diocese. The bishop then took the oath of canonical obedience. Following which Imaekhai administered on him the Declaration of Fidelity.

    After this, he was presented to the congregation.

    He obtained a pledge of loyalty from the cathedral’s clergy and laity, and unveiled his vision by promising to consolidate on achievements of his predecessors.

    Praising the College of Bishops  for electing him, Ohilebo promised to enthrone humility, integrity, dedication, loyalty to constituted authority and faithfulness.

    Ohilebo urged the clergy  to adhere to their responsibilities of fulfilling the command of Christ, warning against laziness and lukewarm service.

    He promised to bridge the communication gap, assuring all that the welfare of the clergy will be given priority.

    Ohilebo said he’s a child of destiny,  recalling how he ran away from serving, but God spoke to him through Baba Agbaje, and he was called to the Ministry in 2001.

    Among challenges he promised to tackle are reviving the church dilapidated infrastructures, such as a cassava processing factory, ‘pure’ water factory and printing press.

    His words:  “Our administration shall be committed to the revamping of these structures. With God all things are possible. We should give up anything if God asks us to do so.

    “I feel happy that God has favoured us and we are given the assignment to shepherd his flock in times as this. We are not here on our own. God gave us this assignment. We rely on him to lead us.

    “We are coming to a diocese where the Bishop’s Court needs N24 million to renovate. There is no official car for the bishop. We will depend on the strength of God to rebuild the infrastructure. We are willing to take the diocese to higher heights.”

    Reverend Ohilebo started his education at Owato Primary School and proceeded to Oke Secondary School.

    He attended Ezekiel College of Theology, Ujoelen-Ekpoma; obtained a diploma in Religious Studies and Diploma in Theology.

    The bishop was ordained in 2004 before proceeding to former Amrose Alli University, Ekpoma, to study Religious Management and Cultural Studies.

  • SSG, bishop at Ozubulu church mass

    •Lady Knights seek justice for the slain

    St. Phillip’s Catholic Church at Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State came alive yesterday with the presence of the suspected drug baron, High Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu, at the morning mass.

    The church was sealed following the killing of 13 persons, while 27 others were injured last Sunday.

    There were few worshippers yesterday during the 6.30 a.m mass service.

    But the presence of government officials, led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, raised the hope of the worshippers in the community.

    The Nation gathered that the residents were afraid of attend the mass because of the August 6 killings at Uzubulu in Anambra State.

    Though Ikegwuonu refused to talk, one of his aides said his principal would talk at appropriate time.

    The few people at the mass billed for 6.30 a.m became agitated until at the government officials arrived at 9 a.m.

    They included the parish priest who escaped the gunmen attack by whiskers, Rev. Jude Onwuaso.

    The cleric urged them not to be weak or fear because of what happened on August 6, adding that God is still on the throne.

    Ownuaso said God was aware of the blood the hoodlums spilled during the killings.

    According to him, the victims will be on God’s right hand.

    The Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rev. Hilary Odili Okeke said the blood of the departed was still crying in the wilderness.

    He added that God would never forsake His people.

    Also, the Ladies’ Auxiliary Knights of St. John International in Nigeria have condemned the shooting at St. Philip’s Catholic Church at Ozubulu in Anambra State.

    It resulted in the killing of women and children by yet-to-be identified gunmen.

    In a statement by their National/Supreme Subordinate President, Prof Viola Onwuliri, the Ladies’ Knight said: “The Catholic Church abhors violence in any form; worse still, in our place of worship that is sacred.”

    Prof Onwuliri commiserated with the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rev Hillary Okeke, on the death of some lay faithful in the shooting.

    She added: “As mothers, we are deeply saddened by this ugly development in our place of worship, a place of solemnity, where the lay faithful usually and especially women had gone to seek succour by presenting their families and worries before God, only to meet their untimely death!

    “Our hearts bleed and we are consumed in grief. It is more disheartening that till now, the perpetrators of this dastardly act have not been apprehended for possible prosecution.”

    She urged the police to bring the perpetrators to justice.

  • Bishop slams secondary education policy

    Bishop Olusola Odedeji of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West has called on the Federal Government to reinstate Christian Religious Knowledge as a distinct subject in the secondary school curriculum.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the just concluded Diocesan Clergy School in Ipaja, Lagos, with more than 400 priests from the Dioceses of Lagos West, Awori and Ile-Oluji, the Bishop described the decision to merge the subject with others as “unfortunate and unacceptable”. He called on Christians to be vigilant within the context of “strange developments in the country”.

    The Bishop contended that the government has no justification to tamper with “an age-long curriculum against which no one protested”.

    He said: “The old structure has served us well. Why change a winning formula?” He faulted the explanation that both CRK and Islamic Religious Knowledge, as well as Civic Education were merged to promote nationalism and patriotism.

    The Bishop insisted that it was generating “avoidable controversy” at a time when there is already tension in the land.

    He said: “How can anyone ever think of patriotism when the moral foundation is being eroded?

    “I have heard people suggest that the Church is merely trying to shirk its responsibility by expecting that the school would make better Christians of our children. Far from it. We know many children of the elite leave for the boarding house at age 10. Thereafter they only come home during vacation, hence, the school should play more active role in the physical, intellectual, psychological and spiritual moulding of the young ones.”

    Bishop Odedeji, an academic who holds a doctorate degree in New Testament, warned that the Federal Government is playing with fire. “Religion is not something to toy with,” he said, adding that it can burn the country, if not handled well.

    The cleric said: “Nigeria is a multi-religion country and there is nothing anybody can do about that. Already, in parts of the country, for example Southern Kaduna, there are religious conflicts and strife. Christians are on the receiving end.

    ”Also, in almost all parts of the country, Fulani herdsmen are on the rampage, killing, maiming and raping innocent people. Unfortunately, the government is looking the other way. No one has been successfully persecuted for the crime. They should realise that we cannot afford another round of insurrection in the country.”

    On the introduction of Arabic and French as alternative languages from which every student must offer one, the Anglican Bishop said: “It is needless and serves no purpose.” He explained that, “since all students offer English language as a compulsory subject, they don’t need any other. We are not opposed to Arabic as a subject, but Arabic and French should be voluntary.

    “Whether some people want to admit it or not, Arabic is closely associated with the Islamic religion. It is the language of the Quran; the language of prayer for Muslims. Those to teach it will be Muslims; the conclusion that it is a surreptitious means of forcing non-Muslims to learn Arabic, and even, perhaps, coerce them into converting to Islam is therefore unavoidable.

    “As a Diocese, we believe in tolerance, but we are opposed to this unprecedented and patently biased policy. We therefore call on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to instruct the Ministry of Education to halt the dangerous move as it is a ticking bomb,” said Bishop Odedeji.