Court reviews defendant’s bail conditions

Trial of Dr. Femi Olaleye, over alleged sexual abuse, yesterday, continued at Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, Ikeja, Lagos,   with the survivor( Name withheld),  testifying against the doctor  on how she was sexually abused while living with the defendant’s family.
 
Lagos State government had filed a two-count charge against Olaleye, the Director of Optima Cancer Care Foundation, Lagos,  for allegedly having unlawful sexual intercourse with  the 16 year old girl and penetrating her mouth with his penis. His offences contravened Sections 137 and 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
   
At the continuation of the trial before Justice Ramon Oshodi, yesterday, the survivor, who was brought to court heavily guarded, wearing a face mask, testified behind closed doors following the application made by the prosecuting counsel.
 
The prosecution led by Director of the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins prayed the judge to allow litigants to vacate the court since the victim is a minor and to avert negative publicity.
 
He cited relevant sections of the 1999 constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJL), as amended. His application was unopposed by the defence team led by Babatunde Ogala (SAN).
 
Matins had earlier prayed the court to strike out an application seeking for the victim to appear via virtual hearing to pave way for physical appearance of the victim.  
 
Justice Oshodi therefore granted the application. 
   
“I have carefully considered the request, alluding to the constitution … and ACJL of Lagos as amended. I order that the court be vacated for the closed section. The defendant is at liberty to nominate anybody to attend the hearing,” the judge ruled.
 Consequently, journalists and litigants were ordered out of the court, apart from lawyers in the suit.
 
After her testimony, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Ogala told the court that he had filed an application for review of bail earlier granted to his client.  He prayed the court to reduce his client’s bail sum to N10 million and that one of the sureties should be a family or a professional colleague.

The bail review application was not opposed by Martins, who said he left the application at the court’s discretion.

The judge in his ruling reduced the bail from N50 million to N40 million with two sureties in like sum. He ordered that the sureties must be property owners in Lagos State and that each property must be equal to the N40 million bail sum in value.
 
Justice Oshodi also ordered the defendant to submit his Nigerian International Passport, British Passport and other valid documents with the chief registrar of the court.