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 was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Hammed Aliyu Gegele following the cleric’s conviction on multiple counts bordering on unlawful sexual intercourse with minors, illegal abortion, criminal intimidation, and related offences.
According to court records, Olayinka was found guilty of sexually assaulting three 13-year-old girls within the church mission house located in the Agah area of Ganmo, where he served as spiritual leader.
The court also imposed an additional 14-year prison sentence for procuring illegal abortions for some of the victims and using threats to stop them from reporting the abuse.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Gegele condemned the convict’s conduct, describing it as a grave abuse of trust and spiritual authority. He was also quoted as calling Olayinka “a paedophile and philanderer whose conduct should be deprecated by all and sundry in society.”
The court held that the cleric took advantage of his position of influence over vulnerable minors, subjecting them to severe physical, emotional, and psychological harm.
The convict had earlier been arraigned on an eight-count charge including criminal conspiracy, unlawful sexual intercourse with minors, illegal abortion, criminal intimidation, and unlawful possession of firearms. The offences were prosecuted under the Penal Code, the Robbery and Firearms Act, and the Kwara State Child Rights Law 2006.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Chief State Counsel Issa Zakari, called 12 witnesses and tendered several exhibits in support of the case.
The ruling has since sparked widespread reactions from legal practitioners, child rights advocates, and members of the public, who described it as a significant victory for justice for survivors of abuse.
Child protection stakeholders have also renewed calls for stronger safeguarding mechanisms in religious and educational institutions, improved reporting systems, and greater public awareness on child protection.
Analysts say the conviction sends a strong message that religious authority cannot shield offenders from prosecution, while reinforcing the judiciary’s growing commitment to protecting minors and enforcing child rights laws in Nigeria.
