Lagos: Doctor Olufemi Olaleye sentenced to life imprisonment over rape

The Medical Director of the Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Dr. Olufemi Olaleye, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for the sexual abuse of his wife’s niece when she was 15/16 years old.

In delivering the verdict, Justice Rahman Oshodi affirmed that the prosecution, led by the Lagos State Government, had successfully substantiated the charges against the defendant, with a compelling body of evidence.

Dr. Olaleye was brought to trial on November 30, 2022, facing a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration, spanning the period from December 2019 to July 2022 when the minor resided with their family.

The prosecution, under the guidance of Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, presented the case that Olaleye had subjected his wife’s niece to sexual assault for approximately 19 months before the wife uncovered the abuse and reported it to the police. The minor is currently 18 years old.

At his arraignment, the doctor pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution called upon six witnesses, including the minor, the defendant’s wife, a medical doctor, and a child care expert who examined the minor, as well as two police officers involved in the investigation.

The defendant, in his defense, testified alongside a friend of over four decades and a forensic physician who challenged the medical evidence presented by the prosecution.

After a comprehensive assessment of all the evidence presented, Justice Oshodi found it to be overwhelmingly convincing.

According to the judge, Olaleye’s confession, made to his former counsel, Mr. Olalekan Buruji, and the Divisional Police Officer at the Anthony Police Station in Lagos State, was a pivotal piece of evidence confirming his guilt.

Justice Oshodi further noted that Olaleye had expressed regret for his actions in the confession and deemed the defendant’s denial of the statement during the trial as lacking credibility.

In his judgment, Justice Oshodi characterized the medical director as a dangerous offender who displayed no signs of remorse throughout the trial.

“You acknowledged that you are a sex addict in your confession but came to this court and told lies.

“You showed no remorse, and it shows that you are a dangerous man.

“The survivor, to your knowledge, is a child but you forced her to watch pornography, rub her breasts and put your penis in her mouth.

“You penetrated her repeatedly,’’ Oshodi said.

The court found the defendant guilty of the offence.

In his plea for leniency, counsel to the convict, Adebisi Oridate said: “He is a medical doctor who offers services to people suffering from cancer-related ailments, especially women.

“The state recognises his services and the defendant is a first-time offender. He has lost his business because he has been incarcerated, and, of course, his family.

“He has an aged mother who is dependent solely on him. We pray your lordship to temper justice with mercy.”

In sentencing, Justice Oshodi said, “By the laws of Lagos State, I am compelled to hand you a sentence of life imprisonment on each count of your offence, but your counsel has said that you are a first-time offender and a doctor of cancer patients.

“I hereby sentence you to life imprisonment on both counts one and two.”

The judge also ordered that Olaleye’s name be registered in the Lagos State Government’s Sexual Offences Register.

Throughout the trial, the convict’s wife, Aderemi Olaleye, provided testimony, revealing that her husband had been sexually abusing her niece while the young girl resided in their home.

Mrs. Olaleye disclosed that she became aware of these alleged offenses when the survivor confided in her and the family’s driver, stating that the doctor had been engaging in sexual acts with her and using threats to keep her silent.

The mother of two, who is the complainant said on oath, “My lord, on November 27, 2021, my second cousin told my aunty who is my mother’s sister that since March 2020, Femi has been sexually abusing her and introduced her to pornography, from there he graduated to oral sex with her, that he does this in different places in the house where there are no cameras”.

The offences contravene the provision of Sections 137 and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.