The Supreme Court of Appeal granted the National Prosecuting Authority leave to appeal the acquittal of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and two co-accused [1].
This ruling reverses a previous legal victory for Omotoso, reviving a case centered on allegations of sexual misconduct that have persisted for nearly a decade. The decision ensures that the acquittal will be scrutinized by a higher court to determine if the original judgment was erroneous.
Omotoso and his co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho [1], were acquitted on April 2, 2025 [1]. The National Prosecuting Authority, known as the NPA, sought to challenge this outcome, arguing that the legal standard for acquittal was not properly met given the nature of the allegations.
The legal battle stems from an arrest on April 20, 2017 [1], which took place at the Port Elizabeth Airport. The charges involved allegations of sexual misconduct, leading to a protracted legal process that spanned multiple jurisdictions and court levels.
While the 2025 acquittal provided a temporary reprieve for the televangelist, the Supreme Court of Appeal's decision to grant the NPA leave to appeal means the case remains active. The court did not overturn the acquittal in this specific hearing but opened the door for a full appeal process to proceed.
The NPA said the previous court's decision to clear Omotoso and his two associates was a mistake [1]. By securing the right to appeal, the authority aims to seek a conviction based on the evidence presented during the original proceedings.
“The Supreme Court of Appeal granted the National Prosecuting Authority leave to appeal the acquittal”
This development signals that the South African judiciary is not yet satisfied with the resolution of the Omotoso case. By allowing the NPA to appeal, the court acknowledges that there may be legal grounds to revisit the evidence of sexual misconduct, preventing the 2025 acquittal from becoming a final legal shield for the accused.
