TheCable

A special offences and domestic violence court in Lagos has remanded Femi Olaleye, managing director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, in Ikoyi prison pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

Olaleye was arraigned by the Lagos state government on Wednesday.

The medical doctor pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of defilement of a child and sexual assault by penetration.

Olaleye was accused of sexually violating a minor, who was said to be a niece of his wife, for over 20 months.

Remi, the wife of the medical doctor, in an interview in October, corroborated the sexual violation allegations against her husband.

She also accused the medical doctor and his family of threatening her for reporting the alleged rape case to the police.

Many Nigerians had taken to social media to call for the arrest and prosecution of the medical doctor over the alleged rape.

Akin Abayomi, the state’s commissioner of health, subsequently revealed that the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) had been directed to conduct a “thorough investigation” into the allegation.

The commissioner had said the agency would deploy a team of monitors to Olaleye’s facility to get credible information.

THE COURT CASE

On November 21, the scheduled arraignment of the cancer care advocate was stalled following his absence in court.

During the trial on Wednesday, Babatunde Ogala, counsel to the defendant, read out some portions of Olaleye’s bail application, which had been earlier filed.

Ogala asked the court to admit the defendant on bail on the grounds that he is ready to make himself available for trial.

The counsel argued that the defendant is a leading cancer care advocate whose patients will suffer if remanded in prison.

Ogala said the offences levelled against Olaleye are not “grievous allegations like treason”.

Countering the bail application, Babatunde Martins, counsel to the state government, said the offence constitutes a serious crime in Lagos, adding that it attracts life imprisonment.

Martins said the prosecution is concerned that Olaleye has the tendency to interfere with the case, owing to his relationship with the claimants — his wife and the victim.

The state counsel also said Olaleye is a flight risk because he “probably” possesses a British passport.

Martins asked the court to impose bail conditions that will ensure that the defendant attends his trial.

In his ruling, Rahman Oshodi, the presiding judge, granted bail to the medical doctor.

The judge however said the defendant should provide two sureties with N50 million each, titles of two landed properties in Lagos, proof of gainful employment, three-year tax clearance, and proper national identification documents.

The judge asked Olaleye to submit his international passport, British passport and all travel documents to the court clerk.

The case was thereafter adjourned to December 19 and 21 for the continuation of trial.