Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso has been deported from South Africa and barred from re-entering the country for five years. This follows his acquittal on 32 charges, including rape and human trafficking, after spending eight years in custody.
Omotoso departed from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, 18 May 2025, on a flight to Lagos, Nigeria. His deportation follows the Department of Home Affairs’ declaration of him as an undesirable person, citing immigration violations.
Omotoso, the senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International based in Durban, was arrested in 2017 and faced multiple charges. In April 2025, Judge Irma Schoeman acquitted him, stating that the prosecution had failed to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Following his acquittal, Omotoso was re-arrested in May 2025 on immigration-related charges. He was subsequently released after a court ruled that the proper arrest procedures had not been followed.
The Department of Home Affairs has emphasised that Omotoso is prohibited from returning to South Africa for the next five years. He may reapply for entry after this period.
Omotoso’s legal team has indicated plans to challenge the deportation, arguing that it undermines his rights and the judicial process.
