A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced the founder of Land of Joy and Prayer Ministry, Prophet Ajiboye Abayomi Olayinka, to life imprisonment for sexually abusing underage members of his congregation.
The judgment, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Hammed Aliyu Gegele, followed the cleric’s conviction on multiple counts relating to unlawful sexual intercourse with minors, illegal abortion, criminal intimidation, and related offences.
According to court proceedings, Olayinka was found guilty of sexually assaulting three 13-year-old girls within the church’s mission house located in the Agah area of Ganmo, where he served as spiritual leader.
DASCENARIO court also sentenced the convict to an additional 14 years’ imprisonment for procuring illegal abortions for some of the victims and threatening them to prevent disclosure of the abuse.
In a strongly worded judgment, Justice Gegele condemned the convict’s actions, describing them as a gross abuse of trust and spiritual authority.
The judge reportedly described Olayinka as “a paedophile and philanderer whose conduct should be deprecated by all and sundry in society.”
The court held that the cleric exploited his position of influence over vulnerable minors, subjecting them to severe physical, emotional, and psychological trauma.
Legal observers noted that the ruling reinforces growing judicial emphasis on child protection, accountability, and safeguarding vulnerable persons from abuse under the guise of religious or institutional authority.
The convict had earlier been arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on:
Criminal conspiracy
Unlawful sexual intercourse with minors
Illegal abortion
Criminal intimidation
Unlawful possession of firearms
The offences were prosecuted under relevant provisions of the Penal Code, the Robbery and Firearms Act, and the Kwara State Child Rights Law 2006.
During the trial, the prosecution team, led by Chief State Counsel Issa Zakari, called 12 witnesses and tendered several exhibits before the court in support of the case.
The judgment has since generated reactions among legal practitioners, child rights advocates, and members of the public, many of whom described the ruling as a significant step toward justice for survivors of abuse.
Child protection advocates have repeatedly raised concerns over cases involving abuse of minors within religious and educational institutions, urging authorities to strengthen reporting systems, survivor protection frameworks, and public awareness on child safeguarding.
Analysts say the conviction also sends a strong message that positions of religious authority should never shield perpetrators from accountability under the law.
The case further highlights the increasing role of the judiciary in enforcing child rights protections and addressing sexual violence involving minors across Nigeria.
