Lagos doctor Femi Olaleye gets life sentence for rape
Lagos doctor and managing director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Femi Olaleye, has been handed a life imprisonment sentence for the rape of his wife’s niece.
Dr Olaleye had pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on November 30, 2022.
On Tuesday however, Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence court, found the doctor guilty of a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration of his wife’s niece.
Dr Olaleye had been on trial on a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration of his wife’s niece which he allegedly committed between March 2020 and November 2021.
Justice Oshodi in his ruling said “I, therefore, feel satisfied that the prosecutor has established that (a) the prosecutory was a child by section 261 of the Child Rights Law of Lagos state 2015, the defendant had sexual intercourse with her by putting his penis in her vagina, the defendant also forced his penis into her mouth and ejaculated.”
“I must conclude that the prosecution has established counts one and two against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. I, therefore, find the defendant guilty as charged.”
“Femi Olaleye, I have convicted you of defilement and sexual assault by penetration. This charge has a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Accordingly, I sentenced you to life imprisonment on count one and two. On each count, the sentencing will run concurrently.”
Justice Oshodi further said he believes the testimony of the survivor that the defendant raped her and forcefully inserted his penis into her mouth, adding that she was consistent with her testimony and dismissed the claim of the defendant that the survivour was tutored and tortured to say she was raped.
Also rejected by the Judge, was the arguments of the defense team that the survivor was 18 years old when the incident happened and that she had sexual intercourse with two adults at their residence.
According to the Judge, “The sexual abuse came with a threat. The defendant had groomed the prosecutory with pornography, the prosecutory did not consent and did not willingly suck his penis.”
“I’m satisfied with prosecutory’s evidence that the defendant had sex with her and inserted his penis in her mouth and ejaculated.
“I believe the prosecutory that he forced her to suck his penis. I believe that the first time he had sex with her, blood gushed out of her vagina. Her evidence greatly implicates the defendant.”
On the claim by Dr Olaleye’s lawyer that the survivour was tutored by his wife to lie against him as part of the scheme to take over his properties, the judge held that the issues raised by the defendant that his wife was motivated by financial gains was to reduce the evidence of sexual abuse.
“The defendant said his wife was motivated by financial gains, including taking the family home in Maryland, Lagos, Mercedes Benz, money in their joint account and custody of their two children,” the judge ruled.
“Let me immediately say that these issues will not deflate the evidence of the prosecution on the issues before the court. The issue is this – did the defendant have sexual intercourse with the prosecutory and force her to suck his penis? The answer is yes.”
Justice Oshodi said Dr Olaleye’s name should be added to the sexual offenders register and he must be confined to the prison to convey that the justice system frowns at sexual violence.