By Babatunde Solanke
A Lagos bishop, Oluwafeyiropo Daniels, has bagged to life imprisonment for raping his 23-year-old assistant (name withheld).
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court presided over by Justice Rahman Oshodi handed the sentence to Daniel, the Bishop of I Reign Christian Ministry, Lagos, on Friday.
Daniels will spend three years in prison for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old member of the church (count three of the four-count charge).
The judge ordered that the cleric should spend the rest of his life at the Kirikiri custodial facility, Lagos.
Justice Oshodi, who held that prosecution established the ingredients of the two offences, labeled Daniels as a liar and does not have any regard for truth.
The judge, however, discharged and acquitted him on count two of the charge, which is rape of another member of the church (name withheld).
Oshodi held that there was an element of consent from the church member.
The judge also discharged and acquitted Daniels on count four of the charge, which is attempted rape of a member of the church.
Daniels faced an amended four-count charge bordering on rape, attempted rape and sexual assault.
Rape contravenes Section 260 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015