By Nollywood actor Olarenwaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has been in the news — albeit for the wrong reasons — in the last few days.
On April 22, the 48-year-old was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly defiling a minor, a 14-year-old girl whose guardian happened to be comedian cum actress Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess.
The Lagos State Police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had said in a statement that preliminary findings revealed that the suspect began assaulting the victim sexually since she was even years old.
Princess later clarified, via her official Instagram handle, that her colleague only raped the minor twice “and not for seven years as the police claimed”
According to her, Baba Ijesha with whom she had a very cordial relationship and a regular visitor at her Lagos home molested one of the three girls living with her during one of his visits.
The comedienne said the girl opened up to her and her friend after seven years when a video of Baba Ijesha acting with Princess showed on their screen at home.
To catch him red-handed, Princess said she called him for a meeting in her house where she set up a CCTV camera and alleged it captured Baba Ijesha in the act.
Meanwhile, a video of the suspect confessing to the crime and begging for forgiveness had gone viral following the rumour that investigation revealed that Baba Ijesha did not defile the victim.
The case has since generated mixed reactions in the league of actors. Notably is the brawl between actors Yomi Fabiyi and Iyabo Ojo.
Yomi Fabiyi, reacting to the news, claimed that some of his colleagues were targeting a fallen man because they believed no one could save him.
This, however, didn’t go well with Iyabo Ojo who expressed dissatisfaction with his position on the case. The actress took to her Instagram page to address the issue and lambasted her male colleague for sympathising with the suspect.
Amidst reports that a directive had been given for the release of Baba Ijesha from custody due to the ongoing strike by members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Iyabo Ojo, Princess, and others, on Thursday, stormed the SCID, Panti, to protest the alleged plan.
The Lagos Police spokesperson, however, denied the claims, saying the report was wrongly perceived.
He said that the Commissioner Police in Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had ordered the detention of the suspect pending the receipt of legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPPs).
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), in a statement, said the Nollywood actor is likely to face life imprisonment based on the allegations being considered.
PRESS RELEASE- Re Baba Ijesha case
This is to inform members of the public that the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Team is actively following up on the Baba Ijesha’s case, pic.twitter.com/fpDyIhORBr
— DSVA Lagos (@Lagosdsva) April 30, 2021
Citing section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, the DSVRT said sexual assault is punishable by life imprisonment. While section 262 of the same law stipulates 14 years imprisonment for alleged sexual assault.
Sexual assault, based on section 263, is punishable by 3 years imprisonment. For indecent treatment of a child, the suspect is to face 7 years imprisonment according to section 135 of the Criminal Law.
