Legal Battle Continues: Lagos State Seeks Justice in Dr. Olaleye Case at Supreme Court

Supreme Court to Review Dr. Olaleye’s Acquittal: Lagos State’s Next Move

The Lagos State Government has appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn the Court of Appeal’s acquittal of Dr. Femi Olaleye, the Managing Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, who was previously convicted of child defilement and sexual assault by penetration.

In October 2023, Dr. Olaleye was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Lagos Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court.

However, in November 2024, the Court of Appeal acquitted him, citing errors in the lower court’s judgment and describing the prosecution’s evidence as “tainted” and “unreliable.”

In its appeal, the Lagos State Government argues that the appellate court erred by disregarding Section 209(2) of the Evidence Act, 2011, which requires corroboration for the testimony of a child over the age of 14 in defilement cases.

The state seeks to have the Supreme Court set aside the Court of Appeal’s judgment and reinstate Dr. Olaleye’s conviction.

This legal development has garnered significant attention, with civil society organizations urging the Lagos State Government to pursue the matter at the Supreme Court to restore public confidence in the justice system.