Court orders woman’s arrest over false sexual abuse allegation against estranged husband

By KEMI KASUMU

These offences are punishable under Sections 86, 95, 96, and 97(3) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, Chapter C17, Volume 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

A Lagos High Court has ordered the arrest and production of Rahmat Omolara Animashaun over allegations of making false accusations of sexual assault against her estranged husband involving their two minor children.

The development follows an investigation report from the police and a legal advice issued by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice both recommending her prosecution for multiple criminal offences.

Justice I.O. Harrison of the Lagos State High Court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Ms. Animashaun, who failed to appear before the court on July 9, 2025, in a pending criminal case marked LD/25997C/25, filed by the State of Lagos.

According to the DPP’s legal advice, Ms. Animashaun is answering to charges of Perjury, Bringing False Accusation, Making False Statement to a Public Officer with Intent, and Attempt to Pervert Justice.

These offences are punishable under Sections 86, 95, 96, and 97(3) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, Chapter C17, Volume 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The matter stems from a bitter custody battle between Ms. Animashaun and her estranged husband, Mr Adewale Olatunji, following their separation and pending divorce. The couple shares custody of their two minor children.

On October 16, 2022, Ms. Animashaun alleged that both children returned from their father’s home appearing pale and sickly.

Ms. Animashaun subsequently filed a petition with the Police Zone 2 Command, Lagos accusing her estranged husband of sexually molesting their two children and supported her allegations with medical reports from the Mirabel Center.

Based on Ms. Animashaun’s petition and report, Mr. Olatunji was arrested by the Zone 2 Police Command. Upon interrogation, Mr Olatunji vehemently denying the allegations, sought further medical evaluation. This led to follow-up examinations at the Police Cottage Hospital, where medical personnel reported no bruises seen and could not confirm any sexual abuse of the children.

The attending doctors recommended specialist reviews for both children, by a pediatric surgeon for the male child and a gynecologist for the female child, on November 17, 2022 and all parties were asked to be present.

However, Ms. Animashaun and the Zone 2 Police failed to present the children for the scheduled examinations on that date. Mr. Olatunji suspected connivance between Ms. Animashaun and the Zone 2 Police Command to rope him in for a crime he never committed and through his lawyers petitioned the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Headquarters, Abuja leading to the take over of the case file from Zone 2 Police Command via CR:3100/X/FHQ/ABJ/SEB/ADM/VOL.2/284 dated 13th December 2022.

Parties were invited to report to FCID Headquarters Abuja as part of the investigation, however Ms. Animashaun failed to honour the invitations. Ms. Animashaun was subsequently directed by the investigating officers to produce both children for medical evaluation at the National Hospital Abuja in order to corroborate her allegations.

Despite several invitations by the investigating officers, Ms. Animashaun refused to honor same and eventually fled to the United States with the children. This led to a warrant being issued by the magistrate court of Lagos State for the arrest of Ms. Animashaun.

After custody proceedings that spanned several months, the Queens Family Court in New York ordered that Mr. Olatunji take possession of the children from Ms. Animashaun in order to facilitate their return to Nigeria.

Upon arrival in Nigeria, Mr. Olatunji presented the children to the investigating officers of the FCID Headquarters Abuja on February 7, 2025 for medical evaluation at the National Hospital Abuja and to conclude their investigation.

Examinations conducted by Dr. Ukpai Nwankwo Ukpai and Dr. Idris Liman at the National Hospital declared both children healthy.

For the four-year-old male child, there were no scars or bruises observed. For the five-year-old female child, the report indicated a healthy and normal female genitalia, with an intact hymen and no evidence of trauma.

Ms. Animashaun was subsequently arrested by the Police from FCID Headquarters Abuja in March 2025 and was granted bail.

The police investigation revealed that the medical reports that Ms. Animashaun submitted in support of her allegations were suspected to be fraudulent.

Based on the totality of medical reports and police investigative findings, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions concluded that Ms. Animashaun deliberately made false accusations intended to implicate her ex-husband and obstruct justice.

The legal advice cited key precedents, including the Kayode Odukoya v. FRN (2023) case, which laid out the criteria for establishing perjury, and Alhaji Moshood Aroyewun v. Commissioner of Police, Ogun State (2004), which clarified the offence of false statements to public officers.

It also referenced the Joseph Nwobike, SAN v. FRN (2019) decision on attempts to pervert justice.

According to the DPP, “The conduct of the suspect was less than honest and honourable,” stating that the allegations, when weighed against the evidence, including the delayed medical evaluations and negative forensic findings, suggested a deliberate attempt to mislead authorities and damage Mr Olatunji’s reputation.

The case was adjourned to 29th of September, 2025.