LAGOS: The Lagos Division of the Appeal Court has overturned the life imprisonment sentence of Dr, Olufemi Olaleye Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, who had been convicted of raping his wife’s niece.
The Appeal Court found errors in the trial court’s decision and acquitted Olaleye. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to provide credible evidence regarding the victim’s age, creating reasonable doubt in the case.
The court criticized the trial court for relying on witness testimonies about the victim’s age without proof of her birthdate. It also deemed the evidence from Olaleye’s estranged wife and the alleged victim as unreliable and tainted.
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On October 24, 2023, Justice Rahman Oshodi had convicted Olaleye and sentenced him to life in prison, citing strong evidence and a confessional statement. However, Olaleye, through his lawyer Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), appealed the judgment on November 24, 2023.
Justice Oshodi had considered Olaleye’s confession to police and his former counsel as crucial in securing the conviction. The trial court labeled Olaleye as a “dangerous offender,” citing the serious nature of his crimes, including forcing the survivor to watch pornography and enduring repeated sexual abuse.
