Third prosecution witness testifies in Dr. Femi Olaleye’s Trial

A third witness has testified in the defilement trial against the Managing Director of Optimal cancer care foundation, Dr. Femi Olaleye.

Bisi Ajayi-Kayode, who is a lawyer and child forensic interviewer with Cece Yara Advocacy Centre told Justice Raheem Oshodi of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic violence court sitting in ikeja on Tuesday that she interviewed the survivor and found that the defendant had allegedly engaged in serial sexual Activities with the teenager between 2020 and 2021.
The 18-year old survivor, whose names are withheld to protect her identity, was living with the defendant, his wife and their two children at the time.

The witness, who was led in her evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Babajide Martins, told the court that the popular cancer care specialist also used tactics of threat and coercion to silence the survivor, using his position as her aunty’s husband to sexually abuse her.
“He used threats to maintain closeness to her aimed at suppressing the disclosure of his acts. He took advantage of forcing her to have sex with him by telling her virginity is no more in vogue.”

Mrs Ajayi-Kayode also said she was briefed to conduct the forensic interview by the office of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions. She added that she had a single session with the survivor at her facility and that there was an observation team present, made up of representatives from the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Nigeria Police Force, Lagos Command, the office of the DPP, and other specialists.

She revealed that the minor expressed herself and cooperated effectively during the interview.

“Even though she wasn’t sure of what to expect at the onset, she later relaxed and cooperated effectively throughout the interview. She told me he once asked her why she was still a virgin and said to her that it’s no more in vogue and that as a medical doctor, he can cover for girls who have lost their virginity and gotten pregnant.”

The witness also gave more accounts of the interview with the survivor.

“She (the survivor) sleeps in the children’s room after her aunt told her to stop staying in the guest room so she won’t be alone. The defendant usually comes in to the children’s room at night to check up on them. He tapped her that night and told her to come downstairs and make coffee for him. It was during this time
That he started touching her inappropriately and he sat her down and putting his fingers in her private part. He also made her perform oral sex on him. He threatened her not to tell anyone. The abuse became more frequent until she got overwhelmed.”

After the interview, the witness said she and the observation team documented their findings which were then forwarded to the office of the DPP.

The report was admitted as an exhibit, along with a flash drive containing the recording of the session which was played in court.

During her cross examination, lead defence counsel, Babatunde Ogala (SAN) asked her if she based her conclusion on a medical examination done on the survivor, Mrs Ajayi-Kayode admitted that she didn’t see a medical report of any examination done on the survivor and that she didn’t ask the survivor if she had done one before coming for the interview.
She was also asked if the survivor told her when exactly the alleged acts were done but the witness said the survivor gave a sequence of events in a free narrative recall manner.

Further hearing is fixed for January 4, 2023.