By Our Correspondent
The Lagos Division of the Appeal Court has annulled the conviction of Dr. Olufemi Olaleye, who was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his wife’s niece.
The court ruled on Friday that the lower court’s decision was based on unreliable evidence and material contradictions.
Dr. Olaleye, the Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, was found guilty by the Lagos Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in October 2023.
He had been convicted of defilement and sexual assault based on testimony from his estranged wife and the alleged victim, but the Appeal Court deemed these accounts flawed.
Justice Olukayode Bada, who led the three-judge panel, criticized the trial court for relying on inconsistent witness statements, which included a confession from Olaleye that was contested by his defense.
The court also pointed out that the prosecution failed to provide credible proof of the victim’s age, which was central to the case.
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