UK Court Grants Bail to Nigerian Doctor Femi Olaleye as Sexual Offence Trial Slips to 2027
- Jan 29
- 2 min read
A UK court has granted bail to Nigerian doctor Francis Femi Olaleye after prosecutors disclosed the discovery of additional evidence, a development that has delayed his sexual offence trial until 2027.
Proceedings at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent on January 21, 2026, took an administrative turn when the prosecution informed the court that new material connected to alleged voyeurism offences had recently emerged. The late disclosure, the court heard, requires further investigation and formal service on the defence before the case can proceed to full trial.
Prosecutors told the court that the fresh evidence necessitated more time to complete inquiries, while defence lawyers requested sufficient time to review the material and prepare their response once it is disclosed.
Following submissions from both sides, the court adjourned the substantive trial to January 27, 2027, effectively extending an already protracted case marked by cross-border legal issues. The matter is listed under reference number 46/XY/11332/23.
Olaleye is facing multiple counts of voyeurism, allegedly committed while he was resident in the United Kingdom. The court confirmed that all the alleged incidents forming the basis of the charges relate to that earlier period, prior to his return to Nigeria.
The hearing also addressed Olaleye’s custody status. The judge ruled that the statutory custody time limit had expired, meaning he could no longer be lawfully held in detention while awaiting trial. On that basis, the court ordered his release on bail, stressing that the decision was purely procedural and not an assessment of guilt or innocence.
As part of strict bail conditions, Olaleye was ordered to surrender all travel documents, live at a specified address, observe a nightly curfew, report regularly to the police, and avoid any contact with prosecution witnesses. The court warned that any breach could result in his return to custody.
To manage the extended timeline, a case management hearing has been scheduled for March 26, 2026, at Medway Magistrates’ Court. That session is expected to address disclosure issues, trial preparation, and the sequencing of evidence once investigations are completed.
No plea was taken during the January hearing, which the court described as procedural. The judge reiterated that Olaleye remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The UK proceedings have attracted additional attention because of Olaleye’s legal history in Nigeria. He was previously convicted by a Lagos State High Court on sexual offence charges and sentenced to life imprisonment, a decision later overturned by the Court of Appeal, which ordered his release.
The matter is not closed in Nigeria. The Lagos State Government has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, seeking to reinstate the original conviction and sentence. A hearing date for that appeal is yet to be fixed.
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