Baba Ijesha pleads with the Appeal Court to overturn the sexual assault verdict

A Lagos-based Court of Appeal has postponed the appeal filed by Nollywood star Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha, contesting his verdict of sexual assault of a minor by a Lagos State High Court.

Following the parties’ arguments, the appeals court set aside yesterday to rule on the appeal.

Leading the appellate court’s three-person panel is Justice Folasade Ojo. Justice Paul Bassi and Justice Abdullahi Bayero are additional panel members.

Leading the appellate court’s three-person panel is Justice Folasade Ojo. Justice Paul Bassi and Justice Abdullahi Bayero are additional panel members.

The Lagos State government filed six accusations against him, of which the judge found him guilty on four of them.

Unhappy with the ruling, Baba Ijesha filed an appeal with Mr. Kayode Olabiran as his attorney, asking the appellate court to rule that his conviction and imprisonment were improperly carried out.

Baba Ijesha’s attorney contended that the prosecution was unable to provide evidence of Baba Ijesha’s sexual assault of the victim during yesterday’s appeal hearing.

Olabiran contended, “The prosecution was unable to establish the victim’s age, despite the fact that the case is centered on defilement of a child.

“The appellant was set up. The appellant is an actor. He acted in a script that he was invited to act by his colleague (PW1), Damilola Adekoya.

“(PW1) Damilola Adekoya, asked the appeallant to come and act a script. It is in the statement of PW1, at Panti Police Station, unknowingly to the appellant there was a CCTV in the sitting room.

“Whatever we watched in that movie was a script by the producer and the video of the scene of the acting was tendered by the prosecution.

“Based on his confessional statement as at the day of the arrest, he was under duress and there were so many people who were beating him that was when he confessed to the offence,” he said.

Olabiran urged the court to allow the appeal and  set aside the judgment of the lower court, delivered on July 14, 2022.

Responding, Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Dr. Babajide Martins urged the court to dismiss the appeal as it’s lacking in merit and also a misconception.

He urged the court to affirm the judgment of the lower court delivered on July 14, 2022, which convicted Baba Ijesha of indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault.

According to him, “At the time she (victim) gave evidence in 2021, she was 17 years old, which still makes her a child.”