Justice Delayed: No Appeal Filed In Olaleye Case

Justice Delayed: No Appeal Filed In Olaleye Case

widespread calls from civil society organizations (CSOs), the Lagos State Government has not yet filed an appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision that overturned Dr. Femi Olaleye’s rape conviction…READ MORE…

Dr. Olaleye, a medical professional and Managing Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, faced charges of child defilement and sexual assault by penetration. He was convicted by the Lagos Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court in October 2023.

In November 2023, however, the Court of Appeal annulled the conviction, citing mistakes in the lower court’s ruling. The appellate court described the evidence presented by the prosecution as “tainted” and “unreliable,” resulting in Dr. Olaleye’s acquittal.

In reaction to the ruling, CSOs petitioned the Lagos Attorney General, Lawal Pedro, SAN, requesting him to appeal to the Supreme Court to restore public confidence in the justice system. The deadline for such an appeal is set for December 28, 2024.

As of the latest updates, insiders from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice have confirmed that no appeal plans have been initiated. Although the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office prepared appellate grounds and submitted them to the Attorney General, no further actions have been taken.

At a recent press conference at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) office in Lagos, Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, founder of Project Alert, presented the petition to news media. She stressed the critical need to appeal the ruling, highlighting its significant implications for justice and public trust.

The petition was endorsed by various representatives from CSOs, including Itoro Eze-Anaba of Mirabel Centre, Bisi Ajayi-Kayode of Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre, and Kingsley Egbulem of Men Against Rape, among others.

The CSOs urged the Attorney General to promptly file an appeal against the appellate court’s decision, underscoring the necessity of delivering justice to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and holding sexual offenders accountable.

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