Popular Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James (aka Baba Ijesa), finally took a walk to the prison today as an Ikeja Special Offences Court has found him guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court for Ikeja, in a two-hour judgement, convicted Baba Ijesa of three-count charges of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault and attempted sexual assault.
The trial judge, however, discharged and acquitted the Nollywood actor of counts one and six, bothering on sexual assault by penetration and attempted sexual assault by penetration.
His Walk To Prison
Baba Ijesa’s journey to court and his eventual conviction started on 22 April, 2021 when the police arrested and detained him over the accusation that he allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl.
The mother of the girl, a comedienne, Damilola Adekoya, had accused Baba Ijesa (with a video evidence) of sexually assaulting her daughter, a minor.
The Lagos State government arraigned Baba Ijesa before the court on a six-count charges, including indecent treatment of a child, defilement of a child, sexual assault by penetration, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault.
Though Baba Ijesa pleaded not guilty to the charges, the state government said he has a case to answer and he was recommended to face a five-count charge of sexual abuse.
On 4 May, 2021, the Lagos State government established a prima facie case against the Nollywood actor and recommended that he should be charged to court under the five provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
The Lagos judicial authorities granted Baba Ijesa bail on 14 May, 2021, due to his health condition, but with some conditions which he could not meet and he was denied bail and he was further remanded in prison.
Baba Ijesa was, however, granted bail on 24 June, 2021, on the condition he should tender the sum of Two Million Naira with two sureties
Forensic experts, on 28 September, 2021, gave evidence of how Baba Ijesa allegedly sexually molested the under-age girl, but he, on 17 February, 2022, challenged the content of the video evidence tendered as witness, claiming that it was tampered with.
The Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, Ikeja subsequently, on 6 June, 2022, fixed today, 14 July, 2022, for judgment on the case.
