By Mosunmola Raliat.
As the trial of child defilement allegations levied against Dr Olufemi Olaleye, the Medical director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation began on Monday 19th, December 2021, the defense lead counsel Babatunde Ogala (SAN) in a cross examination took note of the account of the first prosecution witness, and got the second witness disqualified having broken the rule of the court.
The court had posited before the trial that all witnesses in the matter should vacate the court earlier. On the premise of this infraction, the supposed witness was disallowed.
The first prosecution witness, Mrs. Olaleye, an economist, entrepreneur in Real Estate and merchandise has been married to the defendant for 11 years.
In her evidence account on Monday at the commencement of trial of the embattled doctor, the mother of two children on behalf of the victim (names with held) narrated to the trial judge, Justice Ramon Oshodi, of the Special and Sexual Offences Court that the girl confessed to a relative and their driver that the doctor has been sleeping with her and threatening to kill her and the witness if she tells anyone.
Led in evidence-in-chief by the, Director Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP, Dr. Babajide Martins, the complainant said on oath, “My lord, on 27th November, 2021, my second cousin told my aunty who is my mother’s sister that since March 2020 Femi has been sexually abusing her and introduced her to pornography, from there he graduated to oral sex with her, that he does this in different places in the home where there are no cameras. He does this around 2:00a.m.”
The witness said she reported the matter to the police, and investigations were carried out on the defendant and the victim to unravel the truth.
She said that in the presence of her husband’s lawyer, the Divisional Police Officer who happened to be his patient said she takes her two children to the defendant’s hospital.
According to the witness, “She faced him, and said what do you have to say to what your wife has said “He broke down in tears that he was having carnal knowledge of her.”
“He admitted to fingering her and having oral sex with her.”
Adding that the matter was referred to Gender Section of the Lagos State Police Command.
She said Police Inspector Esther told her that the victim was not lying about the incidence.
She claimed that her own child also told her that she had seen her husband undress the minor sometime.
According to her, “She didn’t want me to be sad.
“There was no time since November 2021 that Femi had denied the allegations, he has spoken to me about apologising to the whole family and the victim, stating it was the work of the Devil.
She however, noted that her husband checked himself into a rehabilitation home; Grace Cottage Clinics in Ilupeju.
She said, “The psychologist at the rehabilitation centre reached out to me that he had a diagnosis of sex addiction that I should go back to history that if not, my own daughter can be a victim and that I should cooperate with them.
She also hinted that Dr. Ogunubi sent her a message that he is not going to be a part to pedophiling.
She also said that if her husband did not complete his treatment for sex addiction that he will relapse and that if he is allowed to roam the streets, that it is dangerous.
She denied beating the victim into confessing to her aunt at the aunty’s house and also called a meeting where his mother was present.
She claimed thus, “My lord, most nights Femi gives me a small tablet, … Femi gives me a medication, he called it Junior Aspirin, that it averts blood clot.”
The witness added, “I slept through all his atrocities, he also gives me Phenegan that it will help reduce my stress.
“My lord, I was raised to be a strong confident woman. Evil is evil, regardless of who is the perpetrator.
“I have a girl child, I have eight nieces, if this is not curb the evil will continue and my conscience and late mother didn’t raise me that way.”
During the cross-examination of the witness, Babatunde Ogala, SAN asked the witness, Mrs. Olaleye when the victim spoke to her about the abuse, she responded, that it was November 27, 2021.
Ogala further asked if at anytime her husband signed off ownership of the car, she replied: “He didn’t.”
When asked if there was CCTV in the house, her response was, “There is no CCTV in my living room, only in the dinning.”
At that point, the defence counsel, Ogala SAN, asked that the court allow him play a video recording in court.
The court granted the request and a-39 seconds video showing the witness beating the victim.
Ogala asked the witness to identify all the persons in the video which she did.
He also asked her who was beating the girl, she admitted that she has earlier admitted disciplining her.
She noted further in her response that the video was on the 26th or 27th November, 2021.
Two additional videos of 59 and 57 seconds respectively were also played depicting where the witness was beating the victim and appeared to be visibly angry.
The Defense Lead Counsel, BABATUNDE OGALA SAN took the cross examination and asked;
- Where are the children ?
Witness- They are with relatives in Memphis in The US. - Since when have they been there and Why are they there and not in school?
Witness- They traveled for holidays 2 weeks ago.
- The Children attend Chrisland School Opebi, does that mean CSO are currently on holidays?
Witness – Yes. - But for how long have they been in the US?
Witness- Since Aug 21. - The Mercedes Benz car of the defendant was changed to your name… did he sign the change of ownership?
Witness- No (witness wanted to go into further details but was asked not to bother)
So the ownership of the vehicle changed hands without proper documentation ?
Witness- Silent
The MOU that was signed that stated that the defendant should pay N1.8m as a lump sump and transfer of the property at 17 Layi Ogunbambi Close, Maryland was signed when?
Witness- Can’t remember but sometime In April
So where was your husband when he transferred the property to your children in a Trust Deed ?
Witness- He was in detention at Lagos State Police Command.
The 2nd witness that was disqualified by the Judge was the family driver that the court just saw in the physical abuse video aiding and abetting Mrs Olaleye while meting out the maltreatment to Miss Blessing the day before the “allegations” came out.
