A Domestic Violence and Sexual Offense Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has sentenced a popular Nigerian actor, Baba Ijesha, to 16 years in jail over sexual assault and child molestation.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo who ruled over the case gave the
judgment on Thursday, July 14, 2022, after finding the accused guilty of the
crime.
Mr. Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was
accused of sexually assaulting 14-year-old Damilola Adekoya, who is also an
actress with the stage name, Princess. This accusation led to his arrest by the
operatives of the Nigerian Police Force in mid-April, 2021.
The accused was facing a six-count charge of sexually assaulting a minor,
indecent treatment of a child, attempting sexual assault by penetration and
sexual assault by penetration, child defilement, and child molestation.
The suspect initially denied committing the crime until
forensic investigation and witnesses revealed CCTV footage of the crime scene.
The complainant presented four CCTV video pieces of evidence before the court. In the
following months, another CCTV footage revealed the suspect confessing to the crime
in the complainant’s home.
In subsequent court proceedings, witnesses to the defense
counsel claimed that the CCTV video was tampered with and that the suspect was
forced by the police to confess to the crime he did not commit. Justice Taiwo, ruled
out the defense claim because there was no evidence to prove that the
confession resulted from police intimidation. The case was postponed from June 2022 to today July 14, 2022.
In a final judgment delivered today, July 14, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo acquitted Baba Ijesha of counts one and six, which were sexual assault by penetration and attempted sexual assault by penetration.
Justice Taiwo,
however, convicted Baba Ijesha of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault. The court, therefore, sentenced the actor to 16 years imprisonment according
to a report by Vanguard.
Video footage shows the actor falling on his way to prison after the court ruling. While some fans are sad over the case, many
believe he deserves to face the consequence of his action.
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