A Nigerian pastor, Timothy Omotoso, has been found not guilty of rape charges after spending eight years in a South African prison. The case, which had been widely followed in the country, was dismissed because of mistakes made by the prosecutors.

Omotoso, a televangelist, was accused of raping young women from his church in Port Elizabeth. The trial gained massive public attention as it was broadcast live on television. In 2018, a witness claimed she was raped by the pastor when she was just 14 years old.

However, on Wednesday, the judge ruled that Omotoso was not guilty, saying that the prosecutors had mishandled the case. South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) also admitted that former prosecutors had acted improperly and did not question the accused properly. The NPA is now reviewing its legal options.

Omotoso, who was dramatically arrested at an airport in 2017 while trying to leave the country, expressed gratitude for the verdict. His co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, were also acquitted.

This trial was the first major rape case in South Africa to be broadcast live. It sparked important debates about victims’ rights, media influence, and whether live coverage affects justice.

Following the verdict, Omotoso will be deported to Nigeria, according to South African media reports.