Justice Toyin Taiwo of an Ikeja sexual offences court in Lagos has granted Omiyinka Olanrewaju a. k. a. Baba Ijesha bail after taking submissions from prosecution and defense in the matter.
Baba Ijesha has been in custody since April 22, 2021 over
alleged sexual defilement of a minor
Meanwhile,
Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria and 17 other lawyers, today
Thursday, appeared at the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja to argue
the child molestation case involving embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju
Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha.
Dada Awosika, SAN; and Babatunde Ogala, SAN, announced
their appearance before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo during Thursday’s proceedings
while the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Olayinka Adeyemi and four
other prosecutors appeared for the state.
Awosika and Ogala as well as the other counsels for Baba
Ijesha are pressing for the actor’s bail on health grounds but the prosecution
opposed it.
The court, which is on recess as of the time of filing
this report, is expected to decide on Baba Ijesha’s bail application.
Baba Ijesha has been in the eye of the storm since April
22, 2021, when the Lagos State Police Command announced his arrest for
allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the care of Princess.
On May 17, 2021, Baba Ijesha was granted bail by magistrates and
judicial workers on tour to decongest prisons in the state during the
industrial action by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria.
However, Baba Ijesha could not meet the bail conditions
which include N500,000 and a level 16 civil servant as surety.
Omiyinka was subsequently arraigned before the Lagos
State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba last Wednesday on charges bordering on rape,
sexual assault and abuse of a minor.
He was charged with indecent treatment of a child,
defilement of a child, sexual assault by penetration, attempted sexual assault
by penetration and sexual assault, which contravene sections 135, 137, 261, 202,
262 and 263 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon his arraignment before the magistrates’ court,
Omiyinka’s lawyer, Kayode Olabiran, made a fresh application for his bail, but
Magistrate Peter Nwaka refused the application on the grounds that the Lagos
State Ministry of Justice had filed charges before a high court.
Also in court today are popular comedienne, Adekola Adekanya, otherwise called Princess; Baba Ijesha’s colleague, Yomi Fabiyi; as well as other interested parties in the matter.
