The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has secured a legal victory after the Supreme Court of Appeal granted it leave to appeal the acquittal of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused.
The decision reopens the legal process after an earlier attempt by the NPA to challenge the acquittal was dismissed by the Gqeberha High Court.
Supreme Court Of Appeal Allows NPA Appeal In Timothy Omotoso Case
The Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that the NPA may proceed with its appeal against the acquittal of Omotoso, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho.
The trio were found not guilty on 32 charges, including rape, sexual assault, human trafficking and racketeering.
The NPA’s previous application for leave to appeal was rejected by the Gqeberha High Court in April last year.
Timothy Omotoso Faced Multiple Criminal Charges
Omotoso was arrested in 2017 after several women associated with his church accused him of various offences.
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The charges against him included allegations of rape, sexual assault, human trafficking and racketeering.
Following the acquittal, prosecutors sought to challenge the outcome through the courts.
Timothy Omotoso Was Later Deported From South Africa
After being acquitted, Omotoso was arrested again in May on immigration-related charges.
However, he was subsequently released after a court ruled that the Department of Home Affairs had failed to follow the correct legal procedures during his arrest.
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Later that month, Omotoso was deported from South Africa and declared an undesirable person, preventing him from returning to the country for five years.
The Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling now allows the NPA to pursue its appeal against the acquittal through the country’s appellate court process.
