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 ex-husband involving their two children.
The development follows a legal advice issued by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, 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 questions 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 ex-husband, Mr Adewale Olatunji, following their divorce. The couple shares custody of their two children: Tito, a boy, and Tiara, a girl.
On October 16, 2022, Ms. Animashaun alleged that the children returned from their father’s home appearing pale and sickly.
She reportedly suspected sexual abuse and took them to the Mirabel Centre, a forensic medical facility, for examination.
The initial tests at Mirabel Centre reportedly indicated signs of sexual assault.
Mr Olatunji, vehemently denying the allegations, sought further medical evaluation. This led to follow-up examinations at the Police Cottage Hospital, where medical personnel could not confirm any sexual abuse.
The attending doctors recommended specialist reviews for both children, Tito to see a pediatric surgeon and Tiara to see a gynecologist, on November 17, 2022.
However, Ms. Animashaun failed to present the children for the scheduled examinations on that date. The children were not taken for the specialist reviews until February 7, 2025, over two years later, at the National Hospital, Abuja.
Examinations conducted by Dr. Ukpai Nwankwo Ukpai at the National Hospital declared both children healthy.
For one of the children, a four-year-old male, there were no scars or bruises observed. For the other child, aged five, the report indicated a healthy and normal female genitalia, with an intact hymen and no evidence of trauma.
Based on the totality of medical reports and 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.
