A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have kicked against the Appeal Court judgement over the conviction of the Managing Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Dr. Femi Olaleye, for sexual assault and rape in Lagos.
The groups which included the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Child Protection Network (CPN) and International Federation of Women’s Lawyers (FIDA) converge on Lagos Friday for an International press conference on the implications of the judgement over the Appeal Court recently which nullified the rape conviction of Olaleye.
They, therefore, petitioned the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, to pursue the matter to the apex court in order to restore and strengthen public trust in the nation’s judiciary.
Speaking to journalists at a conference in Lagos, Dr. Lucas Koyejo stated that if the judgement of the case was not appealed, it would form a precedent.
“It’s going to form a precedent on which other cases, other accused persons, other defence will lie in the future. So that is why it needs to be tested in the next court,” he said.
The CSOs asserted that allowing the acquittal of an individual once convicted of such a serious crime “sends a wrong signal to potential offenders, as the pursuit of this case to the Supreme Court” was essential to demonstrate that sexual violence against children would not be tolerated while “those who commit such offences will face the full wrath of the law.”
On her part, the state coordinator, Child Protection Network, Mrs. Aderonke Oyelakin, noted that the groups followed through the process of the proceedings.
“We knew how it all started. We were part of this from the beginning till the end. And for me, personally, and other child advocates, we are dissatisfied. We are not happy. But we know that the Lagos state government will do something about it,” she said.