Prophet Ajiboye Abayomi Olayinka, the General Overseer of Mission House of Divine Land of Joy and Prayer Ministry in Kwara State, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Kwara State High Court in Ilorin for sexually abusing three underage members of his congregation. The court also handed him an additional 14 years for procuring illegal abortions and threatening the victims to prevent them from reporting the abuse. The conviction, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Hammed Aliyu Gegele, follows a trial that exposed the cleric’s exploitation of his spiritual authority to commit serious crimes against minors.
The offences were committed inside the church’s mission house located in the Agah area of Ganmo, where Olayinka served as the spiritual leader. He was convicted on three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with 13-year-old minors, acts that violated the Kwara State Child Rights Law of 2006, the Penal Code, and the Robbery and Firearms Act. The court found that the cleric abused his position of trust, subjecting the victims to both physical and psychological trauma.
Justice Gegele described Olayinka as “a paedophile and philanderer whose conduct should be deprecated by all and sundry in society.” The judge emphasized that the cleric’s actions were not only criminal but also a betrayal of the sacred trust placed in religious leaders. The court noted that the prosecution successfully proved the charges of unlawful sexual intercourse, rape, and illegal abortion, but discharged him on the count of bigamy due to insufficient evidence.
The prosecution, led by Chief State Counsel Issa Zakari, presented 12 witnesses and several exhibits during the trial. These testimonies and documents formed the basis of the court’s decision, which also included the forfeiture of a pump-action gun recovered from Olayinka to the Federal Government. The firearm was linked to the charges under the Robbery and Firearms Act, further highlighting the severity of the offences.
Olayinka had faced an eight-count charge that included criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and illegal abortion. While the court convicted him on the most serious counts, it acquitted him of bigamy, citing lack of proof. The judgment sends a strong message about the consequences of abusing power, especially within religious institutions.
This landmark verdict underscores Nigeria’s growing commitment to protecting children and holding perpetrators accountable, regardless of their social or spiritual status. It also highlights the importance of legal reforms and public awareness in combating child abuse. The case is expected to influence future prosecutions involving clergy and other trusted figures accused of similar crimes.
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