Timothy Omotoso acquitted as eight-year rape trial ends in not guilty verdict
Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused, Zukiswa Sitho and Lusanda Sulani, have been acquitted of all charges in the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha.
The highly publicized case, which included allegations of racketeering, human trafficking, and sexual assault, has finally reached its conclusion.
Omotoso was accused of sexually assaulting young women, some reportedly as young as 14, with the help of Sitho and Sulani, who allegedly recruited and trafficked victims. The state claimed he arranged for them to travel to various locations, including Durban, Israel, and Nigeria.
During the verdict, Judge Irma Schoeman emphasized that the prosecution’s case was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. She noted that “the failure of the prosecutor to cross-examine an accused may be decisive and an acquittal will likely result.” Schoeman criticized state prosecutor Nceba Ntelwa’s cross-examination, calling it “poor quality,” and stating that it failed to challenge the accused’s testimony. As a result, she ruled that all three accused be discharged.
Omotoso had been in custody since his arrest in April 2017, making several attempts to have the case dismissed or declared a mistrial. Delays in the trial also led some witnesses to withdraw, choosing not to relive their experiences in court.
With this verdict, the long-running legal battle has come to an end, marking a controversial conclusion to a case that gripped the nation.
