Controversial Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso has been deported to Nigeria after the Department of Home Affairs declared him an undesirable person.
Omotoso who was recently acquitted of rape charges left South Africa via the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon, 18 May, after the Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber rejected his application that was submitted in terms of section 8(7) of the Immigration Act that sought to overturn an earlier decision of the Department to declare him [Omotoso] as a prohibited person.
TIMOTHY OMOTOSO DEPORTED TO NIGERIA
Department of Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza said Schreiber’s decision meant that Omotoso was illegally in the Republic of South Africa.
“Upon his departure, Omotoso was still a prohibited person and given that he was illegally in the country, he was issued with a notification as an undesirable person, meaning that he will not be able to return to the country for five years.
“On expiry of that five-year ban, he will have to apply for his prohibition to be uplifted in terms of section 29 of the Immigration Act. The Department of Home Affairs continues to be guided by our unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law without fear or favour,” Qoza said.
CONTROVERSIAL PASTOR REARRESTED
Timothy Omotoso’s deportation comes just days after he was rearrested on immigration offencesin East London.
Omotoso was acquitted in April, eight years after he was jailed to be tried on charges of raping and sexually assaulting several young women from his church.
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