The United Kingdom’s Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service has delivered a significant legal victory for popular Nigerian Twitter doctor, Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya, who was accused of rape by his ex-girlfriend, Bolanle Aseyan.
The sensational case came to light in October 2020 when Bolanle, based in the UK, took to Twitter to accuse Olufunmilayo of sexually and emotionally abusing her. Bolanle Aseyan, using her Twitter handle @bola_aseyan, made explosive allegations against Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya, known as the “Popular Twitter Doctor.”
She claimed to have been a victim of sexual and emotional abuse, backing her claims by stating that she had “proof.” Bolanle refrained from pressing charges earlier, fearing that such actions could jeopardize Olufunmilayo’s medical license.
Following Bolanle’s accusations, the matter was brought before the UK’s Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. The tribunal embarked on a comprehensive three-year investigation to determine the validity of the claims against the prominent doctor.
After a thorough examination of the evidence and testimonies presented, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service rendered its decision. While they determined the claims made by Bolanle, they concluded that they were “not proven.” Consequently, Olufunmilayo was exonerated, and the tribunal ruled that his fitness to practice as a doctor in the UK remains unaffected.
In parallel to the tribunal proceedings, Olufunmilayo faced allegations of rape before the UK’s Metropolitan Police. However, after a rigorous investigation, the police cleared him of the allegations, finding them to be unsubstantiated.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who is also Olufunmilayo’s lawyer in Nigeria, provided updates on the case through his Twitter handle. He accused Bolanle of harbouring bitterness over the end of her relationship with Olufunmilayo, which seemingly motivated her to file a complaint against him at the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2020, hoping to revoke his medical license.
The tribunal’s ruling marks a significant victory for Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya, vindicating him of the serious allegations that had caused much turmoil in his personal and professional life. As the doctor moves forward with his career, Bolanle Aseyan now faces both civil and criminal cases in Nigeria, underscoring the far-reaching consequences of such accusations.
