The Court of Appeal in Lagos has acquitted Dr. Olufemi Olaleye, a prominent medical professional and the Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, of defilement charges involving his wife’s teenage niece.
According to The Nation, Dr. Olaleye’s initial conviction by the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court had resulted in a life sentence after he was accused of sexually assaulting the minor. The trial court’s decision was based on evidence presented by the prosecution, which it described as compelling.
Challenging the verdict, Dr. Olaleye filed an appeal, arguing that the lower court’s ruling was flawed and that the evidence against him lacked credibility.
In its judgment, the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Jimi Bada, overturned the conviction, citing critical inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case. The appellate court ruled that the testimonies of the alleged survivor and Dr. Olaleye’s estranged wife were “unreliable” and “tainted,” making the trial court’s decision unsafe.
This acquittal has drawn attention to the standards of evidence required in sensitive criminal cases, particularly those involving allegations of sexual offences.
