After years of legal back-and-forth, a Lagos court has officially discharged Pastor Emmanuel Orekoya of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), following accusations that he assaulted his 17-year-old daughter.
Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja struck out the case due to the prosecution's failure to present any witnesses — even after 10 adjournments. The judge described the trial as a “colossal waste of time,” stating that there was no substantial effort made by the prosecution to prove the charges.
Orekoya had been facing a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration, brought against him by the Lagos State Government. He consistently maintained his innocence throughout the process and pleaded not guilty when arraigned on February 26, 2024.
In her ruling, Justice Soladoye said:
“This case is struck out for want of diligent prosecution. Since the defendant’s arraignment, no witness has ever come before this court to testify. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
The court emphasized that while the case has been discharged, the prosecution retains the right to re-arrest and re-charge Orekoya if credible witnesses come forward in the future.
The initial allegations date back to 2017 and involved claims that the incident occurred at Jacob Adeleye Street, Odoeran, in Itire–Surulere, Lagos. The charges were based on Sections 137 and 162 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws (2015), which address offenses involving minors.
This judgment marks a significant turn in a case that had been closely watched by both the public and faith-based communities.
