South African court clear Nigerian pastor of rape and human trafficking charges afta eight years

One South African court don declare one Nigerian televangelist wey bin chop accuse of rape, human trafficking, racketeering, and sexual assault, not guilty.

Eastern Cape High Court judge, Irma Schoeman clear Timothy Omotoso, di senior pastor of di Jesus Dominion International church wey get base for South Africa of all di 32 charges wey Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority sama am.

Di judge also clear di two church members, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sulani wey chop accuse say dem play major role for di charges.

For her ruling on Wednesday di judge say di prosecution no handle di case well-well.

"No thought bin go into di state cross examination of di accused. Di cross examination dey shallow and e lack di intention to uncover di truth." South Africa news outlet, News 24 bin quote di judge.

Schoeman tok say while di pastor explanations no follow, state prosecutors still no fit prove beyond reasonable doubt dia case against him and im two assistants.

Timothy Omotoso bin deny di 32 charges for one trial wey dem broadcast live and wey gain huge interest across di kontri.

Di judgement dey come, eight years afta dem throw di 66-year-old senior pastor plus two co-accused for jail on top accuse of multiple charges, wey include say dem dey lure young women come dia church and sexually abuse dem.

Di trial wey last for eight years na one of di most high-profile sexual abuse cases in recent years, wey dey marred by repeated delay, changes in legal representation, judicial recusals, and several attempts by Omotoso defence team to throw way di case comot from court.

Oga Omotoso, wey dem arrest for 2017, bin fall to im knees and and e appear like say e dey pray afta di judge find am not guilty of all charges, wey include sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Di church leader, plus di co-accused, Lusanda Solani and Zukiswa Sitho, wey stand bifor di court on Wednesday morning go now walk free afta one long legal battle.

Reports say di state bin present traumatic testimonies from survivors, wey give details on how Pastor Omotoso allegedly use im position to manipulate young women into sexual acts, some as young as 14 years old.

For 2018, one witness bin tell di court say di pastor - wey im church dey for di city of Port Elizabeth rape her - wen she be 14 years old.

Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional tok-tok pesin, Luxolo Tyali, wey South African News quote, e say;

"E dey alleged say Omotoso, wey pipo dey address as 'di man of God', na di leader of di Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church and di co-accused be im assistants. JDI get major branches in South Africa, Nigeria, and Israel, and dia headquarters dey for Durban.

"Di complainants na either congregants, employees or pipo dem select to take part for di activities of di church wen dem recruit dem under di guise say dem go benefit spiritually or improve di quality of dia lives. Omotoso allegedly directly or indirectly through im co-accused, bin pay and arrange for di complainants to travel to im hotel for, Durban, Israel, or Nigeria," Tyali tok.

Once dem land di destination, Tyali explain say dem go allegedly instruct di complaints to switch off dia phones.

Dem dramatically arrest Oga Omotoso for one airport for 2017 as e dey try leave di kontri.

Im trial go be di first prominent rape case dem go broadcast live for kontri wia sexual violence dey rampant.

Di hearings bin attract huge interest, and e raise difficult questions about victims' rights, impartiality and weda justice dey best served by having television cameras in courtrooms.

Following Wednesday's verdict, dem go deport Omotoso to Nigeria, South African media outlet News24 report.

Tim Omotoso na di founder of di Tim Omotoso Global Outreach (T.O.G.O) is an Apostolic and Prophetic ministry and lead pastor of di Jesus Dominion International (JDI).

According to di informate on im outreach website, Omotoso describe imsef as a prophet.