The survivor, a 23-year-old woman (name withheld) told Justice Ramon Oshodi that she was abused twice by the Bishop who is the founder of a popular church, I Reign Christian Ministry, for honouring him.
Lagos State government had arraigned Oluwafeyiropo on an amended three-count charge bordering on rape and sexual assault.
He was alleged to have committed the offence sometimes in June 2020 at Flat 4, Road 2, House 18 Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
His alleged offences are contrary to Section 269(2) and 263 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State Cap C17, Vol 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The survivor, who was led-in-evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Babajide Boye, told the court that she was a former assistant pastor of the church, which was located in Akungba Akoko in Ondo State.
Narrating how she got to know the Bishop, she said her friend invited her for a programme that the bishop came for in Akungba.
She noted that the programme was tagged, “Strictly Supernatural”, which was held on May 28, 2018.
She said she became member of the church in Akungba and rose to the position of assistant pastor, and noted that one Pastor Boluwatishe Oladejo took over from one Pastor Toyosi Bamise as the lead pastor.
She told the court that the Bishop, she regarded as her spiritual father abused her sexually at his residence on Flat 4, Road 2, House 18 at Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos on June 21, 2020.
Recounting the incident, she said: “ I was listening to Pastor Chris’ message when bishop came to the three-seater sofa, I was sitting on. He told me to go naked for the third time, but due to the fear of what happened a day before, I went naked. The bishop locked the door, increased the volume of the television and he went naked too.
“He squeezed and pinned me to the chair and sexually abused me. He was bigger than me, so I was bleeding from my private part. I pleaded with him, but he did not listen.
“When I told him of the bleeding, he said he knew that I should shut up. He then directed me to go and wash up. He collected my phone and cleaned the blood before I came out of the bedroom. He threatened that if I tell anybody, I will run mad. So, I was in the guest room till the following day.
“On June 22, I sent a message to pastor Boluwatishe and told him through a WhatsApp code, which we usually chat, that I had been violated.”
She continued that Bishop did not allow her go out of the house after the first alleged sexual encounter with him.
“I was in the room when he came to me again and said he wanted to have sex but I refused. He was very angry, so I told him I had bruises on my private part from the previous sexual violation.
“I was coming out from the room to the kitchen, on June 23, when he came out of his room too, wrapping a towel and said he wanted to have sex with me. He said I should count it as a privilege that he violated me because many people would love to have sex with him, but I told him I have someone I am dating that he is not attracted to me.
“In the living room on that same morning of June 23, he took off my dress and raped me again. He told me I would die if I told anyone. I bled the second time because of the forceful entry.”
She further testified that the Bishop had earlier put a phone call to her on June 5, 2020 that it was her turn to come around with some other pastors to his house in Lagos.
“On June 19, when I got to the house, the Bishop came out from the room, saying that I have a query to answer. He said the punishment for me was to transcribe his message titled, ‘Fulfilling my Ministry.’
“The following day on June 20, only the Bishop and I were left in the house after others pastors had left. He told me to go on a three-hour prayer work around the estate, but I came back home 30 minutes prior to the elapse of the prayer hours due to a heavy downpour.
“So, he queried why I came back to the house earlier. I told him it was due to the heavy downpour. When I entered the guest room where I used to sleep, I met one Sister Jummy, who was also a church member. She was about taking her leave when I came inside the room.
“I was seated on the couch that same day, listening to pastor Chris message when the Bishop walked up to me from the dining section and made comments on the teaching I was listening to.
“He ordered me to go naked again, which I did for the fear of what had happened prior because the bishop accused me of not being submissive and loyal to him as my spiritual father.
“He said he wanted to know my loyalty and see if I have finally submitted to him. I told him I could do anything for him but sex. He tried kissing me and I stopped him, then he slapped me.
“His eyes turned literal red, he was shouting, and I was already in tears as the slap was a very hot one. He started telling me how he had thought me about honour and said that an angel came to him a night before and urged him to ask me to go naked.”
The courtroom was total silent as she continued in her testimony. She said the Bishop told her that the angel was going to test her to go naked. He said to prove the angel wrong that I have not fully submitted to him.
“He said he likes his wife so much that he can never have sex with me. He was in tears and said that I cannot submit to him. So, he ordered me to put on my clothes. I started begging him but he said that I have disappointed him.”
The alleged survivor further told the court that after the defendant allegedly had sex with her the second time, but came back begging her.
The survivor also told the court that the defendant sent her the sum of N5,000, while he was in Ghana, to treat herself after the bruises she sustained turned to boils and she could no longer urinate.
The prosecution counsel tendered computer print out of chats between the survivor and the defendant and the court admitted it in evidence.
It would be recalled that the prosecution also alleged that the Bishop have had sexual intercourse with one other 19-year-old. He was alleged of sexually assaulting her by forcefully sucking her breasts.
After listening to her testimony, Justice Oshodi adjourned to May 24, 2023, for cross-examination and continuation of trial.
