Nigerian pastor and televangelist, Timothy Omotoso, was re-arrested in the early hours of Saturday by South African authorities in East London on immigration-related grounds.
The 66-year-old founder of Jesus Dominion International Church was taken into custody around 5 a.m. in a joint operation involving officials from the Department of Home Affairs’ Immigration Inspectorate, the South African Police Service, and the Tactical Response Team.
Omotoso, who had previously spent several years in custody over serious allegations including rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking, was acquitted of all 32 charges just last month. The initial case, which gained national attention, featured testimonies from young women—some still in school—who accused him of abuse masked under religious rituals.
Confirming the recent arrest, South Africa’s National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, clarified that the action was not connected to the earlier charges, but rather due to immigration issues. He stated that Omotoso is expected to appear in court on Monday, where details of the new allegations will be revealed.
Authorities have not specified the exact nature of the immigration violations, but legal proceedings in the coming days are expected to shed light on the situation.
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