South African authorities have deported Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso shortly after a court cleared him of charges that had kept him in a legal battle for years.
The preacher, who leads Jesus Dominion International, was declared an undesirable person by the South African Department of Home Affairs and removed from the country on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
He was escorted by immigration officers and the police to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, where he boarded a flight back to Nigeria.
This action followed his recent acquittal, along with Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, after a long-running trial that spanned about eight years.
They were cleared of serious allegations including rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Despite the verdict, the Department of Home Affairs refused Omotoso’s request to lift his prohibited status.
He had applied to overturn it under South Africa’s Immigration Act, but the Minister of Home Affairs turned down the application.
Authorities maintained that Omotoso had remained in the country illegally and was therefore banned from returning for the next five years.
Once that period is over, he will need to apply again if he wishes to re-enter South Africa.
Omotoso had been arrested again in East London shortly before his deportation, this time over immigration issues.
Although the court ruling ended the criminal case against him, public reactions were mixed.
Many civil groups and political figures expressed disappointment over the outcome, saying they had hoped the trial would bring justice for victims of gender-based violence.
The Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, was reported to have asked the National Prosecuting Authority for a full report on how the case was handled.
She raised concerns about how the prosecution conducted the trial, especially given the attention it had drawn over the years.
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