Popular Nigerian pastor deported from South Africa after acquittal

Controversial Nigerian pastor and televangelist, Timothy Omotoso, has been deported from South Africa following a ruling by the country’s Department of Home Affairs declaring him an undesirable person.

Omotoso was officially deported on Sunday, May 18, 2025, and a viral video currently making rounds on social media captures the moment he was escorted by law enforcement officers and immigration officials as he boarded a flight to Nigeria at OR Tambo International Airport.

This development comes just weeks after Omotoso was acquitted of 32 criminal charges, including rape and human trafficking, by a South African court in April 2025. The ruling marked the end of an eight-year legal battle that began with his dramatic arrest in 2017, a case that stirred nationwide controversy and drew criticism over prolonged delays in the judicial process.

His deportation brings a controversial chapter in South Africa’s legal and immigration history to a close, even as public discourse continues over the legacy of the case and its implications.