Society Editor
By Tolu Adesuwa Igiehon
A Nigerian medical doctor, Dr. Olufemi Olaleye, has been detained in the United Kingdom after authorities accused him of secretly recording women involved in intimate acts more than a decade ago.
Olaleye, 57, was arrested on arrival at Gatwick Airport on Thursday, November 27, and immediately taken into custody by officers from the Kent Police. He appeared before the Medway Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to remain in detention until January 2, 2026.
Charges Linked to Early 2000s
According to UK officials, the allegations stem from incidents said to have occurred between 2004 and 2007, during the time Olaleye worked in the United Kingdom as an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist at Darent Valley Hospital under the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust.
Investigators accuse him of covertly filming women engaged in private sexual activities without their consent — actions classified as voyeurism under the UK Sexual Offences Act of 2003.
He faces three separate counts, each linked to alleged recordings made for the purpose of sexual gratification.
The doctor pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Identity Questions and Multiple Name Variations
UK court records list the suspect as Francis Olaleye, though documentation from previous professional and charity-related activities shows he has used several versions of his name over the years, including:
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Frank Olufemi Olaleye
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Frank Olaleye
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Dr Femi Olaleye
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Olufemi Olaleye
He also previously served as a director of a UK-based charity established in 2007. Corporate filings from that period list “Olufemi” as his former surname, raising further curiosity about his multiple identities.
Authorities confirmed that all names refer to the same individual.
There are also inconsistencies regarding his age: while some public records list him as 57, the doctor publicly announced his 58th birthday earlier in 2025.
UK Officials Outline Concerns
Court representatives say the decision to remand him was influenced by multiple risk factors presented to the magistrate, including:
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The possibility of re-offending
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Concerns that he may flee the country
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Fears that he could interfere with the ongoing investigation
The case has been scheduled for a full hearing on January 21, 2026, at the Maidstone Magistrates’ Court.
A Complicated Legal Past in Nigeria
Olaleye’s latest arrest comes roughly a year after he was cleared of sexual misconduct charges in Nigeria — a case that drew nationwide attention.
He was initially charged in Lagos in 2022 with the alleged sexual abuse of his wife’s teenage niece. The accusations included claims of introducing the minor to pornography, engaging in sexual acts, and administering substances to incapacitate adults in the home.
He was convicted in October 2023 and sentenced to life imprisonment, but his conviction was overturned in late 2024 by the Court of Appeal, which faulted the handling of the case and declared the evidence unreliable.
Following his acquittal, he travelled widely, published books about his experience, and granted interviews describing himself as wrongfully accused.
His travels continued until his recent detention in the UK during what appears to have been another international trip.
