January 29, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
Maidstone, United Kingdom — Nigerian medical doctor Francis Femi Olaleye has been granted bail by a UK court after his trial on multiple sexual offence charges was postponed until January 27, 2027 due to the emergence of late-surfacing evidence, legal proceedings confirmed on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
At Maidstone Crown Court in Kent, prosecutors disclosed that investigators uncovered new material linked to allegations of voyeurism, necessitating further inquiry before a substantive hearing can proceed. The development prompted the prosecution to request additional time to serve the material on the defence, and the defence counsel sought “adequate time” to review the newly disclosed evidence.
In response to these submissions, the court adjourned the case to January 27, 2027, effectively delaying progress on the formal hearing of the charges. The matter is recorded under reference number 46/XY/11332/23.
The allegations against Dr. Olaleye pertain to more than five counts of voyeurism, said to have occurred while he was resident in the United Kingdom before relocating to Nigeria. All alleged incidents cited in the indictment reportedly stem from that earlier period of residence.
Beyond the adjournment, the hearing produced a key procedural ruling: the court noted that the statutory “custody time limit” had expired. This legal limit defines the maximum period a defendant may be held in custody awaiting trial. Accordingly, the judge ordered that Olaleye be released on bail rather than being remanded.
The bail conditions require the defendant to surrender all passports and travel documents, reside at a specified address, and observe a nightly curfew typically between 7pm and 6am. Additional conditions include regular reporting to a designated police station and a strict prohibition on contacting any prosecution witnesses, with the court stressing that strict compliance is mandatory pending future hearings.
To manage the extended timeline, the judge scheduled a case management hearing for March 26, 2026, at Medway Magistrates’ Court. That session is expected to address procedural issues including disclosure obligations, sequencing of evidence, and overall preparations for trial once investigations conclude.
During the administrative hearing, Olaleye did not enter a plea. The court reiterated that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Attention on the UK case has grown due to Dr. Olaleye’s prior legal history in Nigeria. He was previously convicted by a Lagos State High Court in 2023 on similar sexual offence charges and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal overturned that judgment and ordered his release.
The Nigerian case remains unresolved, with an appeal filed by the Lagos State Government at the Supreme Court seeking to reinstate the original life sentence imposed by the trial court. A hearing date for the appeal has not yet been set.