Nairobi court lifts warrant of arrest against rugby player Alex Olaba

A Nairobi court has lifted a warrant of arrest issued against rugby player Alex Mahaga Olaba after he availed himself in court on Wednesday.

Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku acknowledged his explanation that he was unwell hence his inability to appear before the court last week.

Last Friday, Magistrate Mutuku issued the warrant after the prosecution made the application against Olaba for absconding court for the second time.

The Kenya Harlequin’s team player explained to the court that on June 12 when the judgement was first set, he unavoidably got late as he had to sort out issues regarding his studies with his school dean.

The Strathmore University student explained that the school has discontinued his studies as a result of the case and as such had to meet with the school officials on that day.

The judgement was then pushed to July 12 by Magistrate Martha Mutuku but Olaba was still not present in court.

A warrant of arrest was subsequently issued against him as this was the second time he had failed to appear in court.

In lifting the arrest warrant, the magistrate further considered the fact that he had presented himself to court and has never absconded court during the entire trial process.

Olaba together with Lawrence Frank Wanyama are accused of gang raping a woman on February 11, 2018 at Seefa Apartment in Highrise Nairobi after a night out at a party.

They have both denied the charge and are out on a cash bail of Ksh.500,000 each.

The victim alleges that she went to hospital the next morning, but did not report the incident to the police, not until a test showed she was pregnant.

In their statements, the players maintain that the sexual contact was consensual.

They further accuse the woman of attempting to blackmail them by threatening to publicize the story if she wasn’t paid.