Transgender Patient
According to a report by PM News Nigeria on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, a British-Nigerian man, Luther Badejo, is standing trial in the United Kingdom over allegations that he assisted in the sexual assault of a transgender patient inside a secure psychiatric ward at Lambeth Hospital in south London.
Mental Health Conditions
Prosecutors told the Inner London Crown Court that the alleged incident occurred on April 12, 2022, at Eden Ward, an all-male unit that houses patients with serious mental health conditions, some of whom were detained under the Mental Health Act.According to the prosecution, the complainant, a transgender man who is biologically female, was targeted shortly after being admitted to the ward. The court heard that other patients questioned the complainant’s gender, prompting them to seek refuge in a side room to avoid further attention.
Davointe Thomas
Prosecutors allege that the complainant was followed into the side room by Davointe Thomas, 25, and Luther Badejo, 29. It is claimed that Thomas carried out the sexual assault while Badejo acted as an accomplice by standing guard and preventing others from intervening.After the initial incident, the complainant reportedly managed to escape to their room and later moved to a communal television area. The court was told that Thomas and Badejo allegedly followed them again, leading to a second assault in the same area, during which Badejo is accused of remaining present and obstructing help.
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Inadequate Supervision Contributed
Kate Bex KC, prosecuting, told the court that staffing shortages and inadequate supervision contributed to the complainant being left vulnerable. She said that given the complainant’s circumstances, enhanced monitoring should have been in place, but this did not happen. However, she stressed that any institutional failures did not excuse the alleged actions of the defendants.The court heard that the complainant had made it clear they did not consent, but staff did not intervene at the time. The matter only came to wider attention after a physical altercation later occurred between Thomas and another patient who had been informed of the alleged assault.
King’s College Hospital
Following the incident, the complainant contacted the police and was taken to King’s College Hospital. In contrast, Thomas later contacted police to deny the allegations, claiming the interaction was consensual and disputing the complainant’s account.Evidence presented to the court included forensic findings and testimony from hospital staff. A support worker, Pedro Egharavba, told jurors he witnessed Thomas in a compromising position with the complainant and saw Badejo nearby. He said he did not realise at the time that the complainant was transgender.
Administrative Error
Badejo, who had been transferred to the hospital due to an administrative error, later told police he could not recall the events. Thomas, when interviewed, initially declined to answer questions before later denying that any force was used.Thomas has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, while Badejo has pleaded not guilty to one count of assisting the offence. The trial is ongoing.