Olaleye knows destiny today — News — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal today, Friday, November 29, heard the Medical Director of the Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Dr., who appealed against his rape conviction and life imprisonment. He will announce his decision on the appeal filed by Olufemi Olaleye.

Olaleye was convicted in October 2023 by Judge Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Court for defiling his wife’s nephew. The court ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Unsatisfied with the decision, Olaleye went to his lawyer, Dr. Through Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), he filed an appeal on 35 grounds in November 2023 with the aim of overturning the conviction.

Appellant alleged that the prosecution failed to produce documentation proving that he was 16 years old at the time of the crime, arguing that there was no direct evidence to determine the age of the alleged victim. Pinheiro also highlighted suspicious inconsistencies in the victim’s statement, noting that she did not initially accuse Olaleye of rape in her statement to police.

“The testimony is full of contradictions,” Pinheiro said. However, the prosecution countered that the crimes of defilement and sexual assault were proven beyond reasonable doubt. He emphasized that in order to establish contamination, it must be shown that the victim was a minor and that the defendant had sexual intercourse with the child, regardless of consent.

The prosecution argued that all elements of the crime were established at trial and that the trial judge relied on reliable evidence to convict Olaleye. The case is being heard by a three-judge bench comprising Justice Olukayode Bada, Justice Mohammad Sirajo and Justice Folasade Ojo.

After listening to the defenses of both parties, the court postponed the decision until today.