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The Lagos State Government has announced its decision to challenge the recent Appeal Court ruling that overturned the conviction of Femi Olaleye, a medical doctor accused of defiling his wife’s niece.
In a statement on Saturday, the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu confirmed that it would approach the Supreme Court to seek a reversal of the appellate court’s decision.
The Court of Appeal in Lagos had on Friday discharged and acquitted Olaleye, the Managing Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation. The court ruled that the lower court erred in its judgment, describing the prosecution’s evidence as “tainted” and “unreliable.”
This decision overturned an earlier ruling by the Lagos Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court, which had sentenced Olaleye to life imprisonment in October. Justice Rahman Oshodi had found him guilty on two counts of defilement of a child and sexual assault by penetration.
Civil rights groups, expressing outrage over the appellate court’s decision, have petitioned Lagos State Attorney General Lawal Pedro, SAN, urging the government to escalate the case to the apex court. They emphasized the need to restore public confidence in the judiciary.
In response, the Lagos State Government filed a notice at the appellate court, signaling its intent to challenge the judgment at the Supreme Court.
The case, which has drawn widespread attention, highlights ongoing concerns about the handling of sexual violence cases in Nigeria’s legal system. The Supreme Court’s eventual ruling will likely set a critical precedent for similar cases in the future.
