Dr. Olufemi Olaleye, the Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, has taken his case to the Court of Appeal in an attempt to overturn the judgment of a lower court that convicted him of rape.
In October, Olaleye received a life imprisonment sentence from the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for the rape of his wife’s niece, who was a teenager at the time of the incident.
Through his lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Olaleye filed an appeal on November 24, 2023, citing 35 grounds against the judgment of the lower court.
The appellant argued that the lower court made an error by concluding, in the absence of direct evidence, that the alleged victim was 16 years old at the time of the offense. He emphasized the lack of direct evidence from anyone who witnessed the birth of the alleged victim.
Additionally, the appellant contended that the prosecution failed to present any documentary evidence supporting the claim that the alleged victim was 16 years old.
Olaleye’s legal representation asserted that the alleged victim’s testimony was riddled with inconsistencies, contradicting the findings of the lower court. Notably, the appellant highlighted that the alleged victim did not initially make any rape accusation in her statement to the police.