South Africa to pursue an appeal against the Nigerian pastor justified for rape

South African authorities say they will continue with court proceedings against Nigerian Televangelist Timothy Ootoso, who was justified for rape last month, although he left the country.

Ootoso, who denied 32 accusations against him, was charged with sexual assault on young women from his church in Port Elizabeth.

The National Prosecutor’s Office (NPA) says that it will still appeal the decision, which found that G -n -Ootoso was not guilty, saying that his presence was not required.

Local reports have said that G -n -Ootoso is on the way to Nigeria, leaving or Tambo an international airport, where it was filmed by the public television operator SABC, wearing a hood and dark sunglasses.

Ootoso was first arrested in 2017 when he tried to leave South Africa.

Among his prosecutors was a woman who said she had been raped by the pastor when she was 14 years old.

In a statement, the South African prosecutors accepted “there are no legal reasons to prevent the” dn otosos to leave the country after their acquittal.

However, if the appeal is authorized, the authorities will apply for the Ootos to be extradited back to South Africa, the statement adds, emphasizing the “bilateral extradition treaty of South Africa with Nigeria”.

Following his justification in April, he also encountered immigration problems with Ministry of the Interior, claims earlier this month that he was in South Africa illegally.

The department said Mr. Ootoso was facing a five-year ban on the country.

The South Africa public operator reports that the pastor has left the country voluntarily.

Ooto -Ootoso leads the International Church of Jesus Dominion, which has branches in the UK, Nigeria, France and Israel, as well as in many parts of South Africa, according to his website.

The process of Mr. Ootoso made the history of South Africa as the first case of rape that is broadcast live.