Agency Report/
Embattled founder of the I Reign Christian Ministry, Bishop Daniel Oluwafeyiropo, charged with rape of his assistant and one other lady, closed his defence on Friday in Lagos.
Oluwafeyiropo is facing trial on a two-count charge bordering on raping two ladies, at an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court..
The defendant was alleged to have had sexual intercourse with the ladies against their wishes, at his Lekki residence, Lagos, State
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bishop opened defence on Tuesday and denied the charges.
The defendant told the court that the alleged survivors conspired against him to accuse him of the offences.
During cross-examination by state counsel, Mr Babajide Boye, on Friday, the defendant reiterated that he believed that the alleged survivors conspired against him.
He also denied giving N100,000 to one of the alleged survivors for medical treatment.
Boye asked him if his position as a pastor and someone who people approached for counselling made him to manipulate them.
The defendant said: “I am not a manipulator. Three ladies turned against me but one of them later apologised to me.
“I am not a powerful man but I am a pastor, and I do not use power to counsel people.
“You get trained to counsel and you use wisdom and the leading of the spirit.”
The defendant also denied tampering with WhatsApp messages between him and one of the alleged survivors.
Defence counsel, Mr Olukunle Oyewole, thereafter informed the court that the defendant would be closing his case.
Justice Rahman Oshodi admitted some extrajudicial statements from the defence counsel in evidence and marked them Exhibits E1 to E7.
Oshodi adjourned the case until Dec. 20 for adoption of final written address by defence and prosecution counsel.
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