Court refuses to clarify Omotoso acquittal, dealing blow to NPA appeal efforts
Last week, the NPA launched its appeal against the April judgment, which found it had failed to prove Omotoso’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
FILE: Rape-accused Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused have been acquitted on all charges, including rape, racketeering, human trafficking, and assault. Picture: Sipha Kema
GQEBERHA - The NPA has suffered another setback after the Gqeberha High Court refused to clarify its ruling acquitting Timothy Omotoso on rape charges.
Last week, the NPA launched its first step in its appeal against the April judgment, which found it had failed to prove Omotoso’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The controversial Nigerian televangelist was arrested in 2017, facing 30 counts of rape, sexual assault, human trafficking and racketeering, over alleged crimes committed against his congregants in his church.
The NPA’s efforts to resurrect its failed case against Timothy Omotoso appear to be losing momentum, with the Gqeberha High Court refusing to provide additional reasons for his acquittal.
Last week, the prosecution filed its first papers to appeal an April judgment that found it had failed to prove Omotoso’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, relying heavily on what the court called unreliable witnesses.
Omotoso, who is now barred from entering South Africa leaving, the country for Nigeria has maintained his innocence throughout.
His lawyer, Peter Dauberman, slammed the NPA’s appeal as a “desperate attempt to save face,” accusing prosecutors of wasting judicial resources and further damaging his client’s reputation.
He argued the state had ample time to present a strong case and that the acquittal was fully justified by the evidence.