By Linus Akomolafe
Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James also known as Baba Ijesha, is facing a six-count charge, bordering on indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.
Baba Ijesha was arrested and detained by the Lagos state police in April after he was alleged to have sexually molested a minor at age 7 and 14.
DEVELOPMENT LEADING TO HIS ARREST
On May 2, CCTV footage of Baba Ijesha kissing and fondling sensitive parts of the body of the 14-year-old girl whom he allegedly raped surfaced online. It led to his arrest and detention for about 30 days.
The eight-minute footage, where Baba Ijesha was seen sucking the fingers of the minor, was set to have been planned by Nigerian Comedienne, Damilola Adekoya, also known as Princess, to have concrete evidence to prosecute him for his alleged sexual assault committed seven years ago.
The court on June 24, granted him bail in the sum of N2m with two surety in like sum.
BABA IJESHA COURT’s TRIAL SINCE HIS BAIL
After his bail in June, at the resumed hearing of the matter on July 26, the prosecution lead by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Olayinka Adeyemi, presented its first witness, Princess, who narrated how the defendant allegedly committed the offences, stating they were friends since 2008 and her house was always open to Ijesha.
Meanwhile, Princess claimed the actor had visited her at her residence on the day he was caught allegedly sexually assaulting her foster daughter.
On September 28, there were more revelations of how Baba Ijesha inserted his car key into a victim’s vagina.
A forensic report, presented by a prosecution witness, Mrs. Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode to the Special Offenses Court in Ikeja, stated that the embattled Yoruba actor inserted a car key into the vagina of a minor and sexually harassed her twice.
VICTIM’S TESTIMONY AND MEDICAL EXAMINATION
The minor told the court on October 21 that the actor visited the house where she was staying with her guardian, Princess, and brought out his penis, and then asked her to sit on his lap.
In the video of her confesion played in court, she said: “I didn’t make a sound after seeing his private part. I sat on his lap and removed my pants, because of my concentration on the cartoon I was watching.”
She revealed that the actor returned again the following day and penetrated her with a car key. “He parked his car away from the house and that was where he inserted his car key into my private part, while trying to kiss me.
During the trial evidence presented by the state prosecutor, Mr Yusuf Sule a medical doctor, Aniekan Makanjuola, at the court on October 21 collaborated the story of how the minor was allegedly defiled by Nollywood actor, Baba Ijesha.
“Our findings were that there was a blunt penetration of the vagina which was consistent with the client’s story,” she said.
Makanjuola, a trained forensic medical examiner working with Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) testified as the fourth prosecution witness.
However, the judge, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, adjourned the case to November 5 and 12, where the prosecution counsel would present their last three witnesses.
ABOUT BABA IJESHA’S CAREER
He started his acting career in the 80’s and came through professionally after relocating to Lagos and he is a celebrity influencer and brand ambassador of Matrix Homes & Properties Limited.
Matrix Homes & Properties Limited, a real estate and property firm, fired him on May 3 following the development of his sexual assault case in court.
He came to limelight for his comic roles in Yoruba movies and has starred in more than 50 movies and TV series.
Some of his famous movies includes: Afefe Ife, Ololo Masun.
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Sexual Assault: Minor Appears in court to testify against Baba Ijesha
Lagos court adjourned Baba Ijesha alleged sexual assault case to 20 and 21st of October.
