Olaleye, former Medical Director of the Optimal Cancer Care Foundation in Lagos, was originally convicted in October 2023 by the Lagos State Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court. He was found guilty of repeatedly defiling his wife’s 16-year-old niece between December 2019 and July 2022. Justice Rahmon Oshodi, who delivered the judgment, described the acts as “brutal, savage, and inhuman,” before handing down a life sentence.
However, in November 2024, the Court of Appeal overturned the conviction, ruling that the prosecution’s evidence was unreliable and that procedural errors had tainted the trial. Olaleye was released—a verdict that sparked widespread outrage among women’s rights groups, legal observers, and civil society organizations.
The Lagos State Government swiftly filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court on December 27, 2024, seeking to reinstate the life sentence. Around the same period, Olaleye reportedly fled Nigeria for the United Kingdom, allegedly after learning about the move to escalate the case.
Activists—including the Executive Director of the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV), Gbenga Soloki—have since accused him of being a “serial pedophile.” They also claim he had prior allegations of sexual misconduct in the UK, reportedly linked to his past employment at a major hospital.
Upon settling in the UK, Olaleye is said to have continued similar predatory behaviour, leading to new accusations from the Nigerian diaspora community and subsequent UK law-enforcement action. He was arrested earlier this year and is due for arraignment today, Friday, December 5, 2025. Sources indicate that the charges mirror those he previously faced in Nigeria.
Legal analysts note that if Nigeria’s Supreme Court eventually reinstates his conviction, it could trigger extradition proceedings—ensuring Olaleye faces justice regardless of jurisdiction. Meanwhile, his former Nigerian lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kemi Pinheiro, withdrew from the case and reportedly declined to receive Supreme Court court documents, further complicating Olaleye’s defence.
Human-rights groups have condemned what they describe as Olaleye’s calculated flight from justice. One activist wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “This is an international disgrace. We cannot allow predators to jump borders to escape accountability.”
As the UK arraignment begins and Nigeria awaits a Supreme Court ruling, the cross-border legal battle is shaping up to become one of the most closely watched sexual-offence cases involving a Nigerian professional in recent years.
Background Timeline
- December 2019 – July 2022: The period during which the victim was repeatedly abused.
- October 2023: Lagos State court convicts Olaleye and sentences him to life imprisonment.
- November 2024: Court of Appeal acquits him, citing unreliable evidence and procedural errors.
- December 2024: Lagos State appeals to the Supreme Court; Olaleye flees to the UK.
- February 2025: Reports of new harassment allegations in Nigeria and arrest-related activity in the UK emerge.
- December 5, 2025: Olaleye faces arraignment in the UK.
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