Sadly, Baba Ijesha still happens to be on the wrong side of the law. He is being convicted for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a minor.
The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal on Thursday upheld a previous ruling by a Lagos State High Court, confirming a five-year prison sentence for Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha, for the sexual assault of a minor aged 14.
In a judgement delivered by Justice Folashade Ojo, the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Baba Ljesha on two counts, specifically indecent touching and sexual assault of a 14-year-old minor.
Justices Abdullah Bayero and Paul Bassi concurred with the lead judgement, aligning themselves with Justice Folashade Ojo’s decision.
Justices Abdullah Bayero and Paul Bassi concurred with the lead judgement, aligning themselves with Justice Folashade Ojo’s decision.
Justice Folashade Ojo delivered a judgement setting aside Baba Ijesha’s conviction for indecent treatment and sexual assault, citing that the testimony of the prosecution’s witness (PW1), Damilola Adekoya, was hearsay and therefore unreliable.
Baba Ijesha Confesses
However, Justice Ojo ruled that the testimony of Adekoya was a credible eyewitness account of the events that occurred on April 19, 2021, and that eyewitness testimony is a reliable and effective way to prove the commission of a crime.
Furthermore, the court noted that the appellant had voluntarily confessed to the crime committed on April 19, 2021, and failed to dispute or challenge Adekoya’s statement throughout the entire proceedings.
Justice Ojo observed that the appellant made two confessional statements, one at the Sabo Police Station in Lagos State on April 19, 2021, and another at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, on April 28, 2021, both of which were admitted as evidence in court.
In addition, the court found that in both statements, Baba Ijesha confessed to indecently touching and molesting the minor (PW2) while she was alone with him in Adekoya’s (PW1) apartment.
Justice Ojo held, “The law is certain that there is no other evidence other than admission in the commission of an offence.
“From the totality of the evidence of PW2, it can be safely inferred that, as of the date of the victim’s testimony, she was at best 15 years old and a child by virtue of Section 261 of the Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State, 2015.
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