Judge’s Absence Stalls Trial Of Baba Ijesa
The absence of Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, today, stalled hearing on the alleged case of sexual abuse and defilement of minor against Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James (aka Baba Ijesa).
Hearing on the case has been adjourned to September 27 as the trial judge is currently attending a Judges’ Retreat, alongside other members of the Lagos State Judiciary.
The court registrar was reported to have said a new trial date has been communicated to all parties to the suit in Baba Ijesa was charged with six counts bothering on defilement of a minor and arraigned on June 24, 2021.
The prosecution, led by Olayinka Adeyemi, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, presented two witnesses; the first is a popular actress and comedienne, Ms Damilola Adekoya, (aka Princess) and foster mother of the minor, while the second prosecution witness is the minor.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the two prosecution witnesses testified against the embattled Yoruba actor at the last court proceedings, on July 27.
According to the charge, the defendant committed the offence in 2013, 2014 and on April 19, 2021 at Iwaya, Yaba area of Lagos.
“Sometime between 2013 and 2014, the defendant sexually abused the complainant (name withheld), then aged seven, by inserting his car keys into her vagina.
“He also placed her on his laps, touched her in a sexual manner and rubbed his penis on her body.
“On April 19, he indecently treated and sexually assaulted the complainant, now 14, by sucking her fingers and touching her in a sexual manner.
“He also attempted to have sexual intercourse with the complainant by unbuckling his belt and unzipping his trousers after sexually assaulting her,” the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) told the court.
The offence, the prosecution said, contravened the provisions of sections 135, 259, 262, 263 and 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
