Lagos heads to Supreme Court over Olaleye’s sexual assault acquittal

The Lagos State Government has headed to the Supreme Court to challenge the acquittal of defilement charges against Dr. Olufemi Olaleye.

Dr. Olaleye, the medical director of the Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, has been accused of defiling his wife’s 16-year-old niece.

He was initially sentenced to life in prison by the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in October 2023.

However, on November 29, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Lagos overturned Dr. Olaleye’s conviction due to contradictions in the prosecution’s evidence.

The appeals court determined that the trial court erred in convicting Dr. Olaleye based on “tainted” and “unreliable” evidence from his estranged wife and the putative survivor.

In response to this finding, civil society organisations pressed the state administration to appeal the decision.

They petitioned Lawal Pedro (SAN), the Lagos State Attorney General, urging the government to appeal the judgement to the Supreme Court in order to restore public trust in the legal system.

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On December 12, 2024, the commissioner for justice told reporters at a press briefing that the case file was already on his desk and that the ministry would evaluate the appellate court’s decision.

When asked if he planned to appeal the judgement, Pedro stated that he had 90 days to do so. Dissatisfied with the appeals court’s judgement, the Lagos State Government argued that the acquittal was unjust.

The administration is now attempting to overturn the appellate court’s ruling before the Supreme Court.

The Lagos State Government filed an appeal on December 27, 2024, attempting to revoke Olaleye’s acquittal by the Court of Appeal.

The state government’s grounds for appeal include the claim that the appellate court erred in disregarding Section 209(2) of the Evidence Act of 2011 and the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dagaya v. State (2006).

The state maintained that sworn testimony of a kid over the age of fourteen (14) needed corroboration, as provided by Section 209(3) of the testimony Act of 2011, which requires corroboration of evidence of a child under 14 in order to gain a conviction.

The state further claimed that the Justices of the Court of Appeals erred in law when they ruled that exhibits H, H1, and H2 were incorrectly allowed and relied on by the trial court since trial within trial was not conducted for their admissibility.

“The factors guiding the admissibility of confessional statements are well laid down in Sections 28 and 29 of the Evidence Act 2011, and objections to such admissibility must be raised at the time the statement is sought to be tendered, not after it has been admitted without objection.”

Lagos heads to Supreme Court over Olaleye’s sexual assault acquittal

Nigerian govt urged to intervene in Mozambique post-election violence

Akinola Olunloyo, a Nigerian in Mozambique, has appealed to the Nigerian government to intervene in Mozambique’s political crisis following the confirmation of the ruling party’s victory in the October 9 elections.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to use his influence within the African Union to mobilise efforts to restore peace and stability in Mozambique.

In an interview with journalists on Sunday, Mr Olunloyo said the political unrest was fuelled by the actions of the opposition party, Podemos, through its candidate, Venâncio Mondlane.

Mozambique’s Frelimo has been the ruling party since 1975, when the country gained independence from Portugal.

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Mr Olunloyo, a businessman and resident of Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, for over 13 years, said many Nigerians were stranded with no means of escape.

“The incitement of violence by Podemos and its key figure, Venâncio Mondlane, has escalated tensions resulting in the loss of lives, destruction of businesses, and targeted attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians.

“These actions are not only causing untold suffering to Mozambicans but also putting the lives of Nigerians in jeopardy.

“Immediate intervention is critical to prevent further loss of life and to secure the safety of Nigerians in Mozambique,” he said.

He noted that the attack on foreigners and their businesses was because of the belief that the government benefited from foreigners.

Mr Olunloyo urged the presidency to take actions, including evacuation of Nigerians, to ensure their safety and diplomatic engagement with the Mozambican government to demand the protection of Nigerians and press for immediate de-escalation of violence.

He called on regional bodies and the African Union to demand accountability from Podemos and Mondlane for their role in inciting violence and destabilising the country.

Nigerian govt urged to intervene in Mozambique post-election violence

(NAN)

Ex-minister says Nigeria doesn’t need France to destabilise Niger Republic

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has dismissed claims by Niger Republic’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, that Nigeria is collaborating with France and terrorist groups to destabilise the West African nation.

In a strongly worded statement shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Fani-Kayode argued that Nigeria, if it wished to destabilise Niger, would not require assistance from France or any terrorist organisations.

“If Nigeria wanted to destabilise Niger Republic, I do not believe that we would need France or any terrorist organisation to do so,” Fani-Kayode stated.

He accused Western powers of backing terrorist groups in the West African region over the past 15 years, stressing that Nigeria has been a victim of such organisations and would never align with them.

“I have maintained that the Western powers are behind the terrorist groups that have plagued the West African sub-region over the last 15 years, and for the last ten years, I have publicly stated this and given my reasons,” he said.

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The former minister condemned Tchiani’s allegations that President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu were working with France to sponsor terrorism in Niger, describing the accusations as baseless and provocative.

“Tchiani’s grave allegations that President Tinubu and NSA Nuhu Ribadu have been bought by the French to destabilise Niger Republic, that our Government is jointly sponsoring a terrorist group with France to do the same, and that there are French military bases in Nigeria are infantile, puerile, mendacious and asinine,” Fani-Kayode said.

He warned the Nigerien leader against making inflammatory statements that could strain relations between the two countries.

“The Nigerien Military Head of State, Abdourahamane Tchiani, would do well to be careful not to provoke our wrath with his absurd assertions and remain mindful of the fact that the defence budget for his country, Mali, and Burkina Faso combined is not up to 25% of Nigeria’s,” he added.

Fani-Kayode urged the Nigerian government to consider “more extreme measures” if the accusations from Niger persist, asserting that Nigeria has no obligation to show restraint in the face of such provocations.

Ex-minister says Nigeria doesn’t need France to destabilise Niger Republic