UK’s medical tribunal acquits Nigerian doctor Ogunsanya of sexual assault

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) has exonerated Harvey Funmilayo Ogunsanya, the UK-based Nigerian doctor, of sexual assault. 

The MPTS is a tribunal in the United Kingdom that adjudicates on complaints made against doctors, making independent decisions about their fitness to practice.

Bola Aseyan, a Nigerian doctor also based in the UK, had in June 2020 accused Ogunsanya of abusing her both sexually and emotionally while they dated for one year.

Aseyan made a number of inexplicit claims while narrating her encounter with the medical practitioner.

Ogunsanya, however, dismissed the allegations, arguing that they only had sex under the influence of alcohol at the time when they were cohabiting.

He also threatened legal action against Aseyan and demanded £10,000 for damages.

In September 2020, the Lagos state police command arraigned Aseyan before the Yaba magistrate court on five counts bordering on false accusation and extortion.

The UK’s medical tribunal earlier scheduled a hearing on the matter for July 18-19.

But in its verdict on Wednesday, the MPTS held that the allegations against Ogunsanya have not been proven.

It also ruled that Ogunsanya’s fitness to practice has not been impaired.

“And that by reason of the matters set out above your fitness to practise is impaired because of your misconduct. Not impaired,” the document, shared on Twitter by Inibehe Effiong, the human rights lawyer, reads it part.

“As the Facts have not been found proved it therefore follows that Dr Ogunsanya’s fitness to practise is not impaired.”

See the document below:

In August 2020, the UK police ended all investigations and exonerated Harvey with respect to the allegations.