Nollywood actor in the Yoruba-speaking sector, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has appealed his conviction by a Lagos State High Court for sexual assault on a minor.
Baba Ijesha’s legal team argued before the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, April 23, that he was set up and merely acting out a script provided by a colleague.
He was sentenced to five years in prison by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd.) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on July 14, 2022, after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
The defence emphasised that Baba Ijesha, being an actor, was invited to act out a scripted scenario by his colleague, Damilola Adekoya (PW1).
In response, the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, urged the Appeal Court to reject Baba Ijesha’s appeal, asserting that it lacked merit and was based on misconceptions.
Meanwhile, Dr. Martins further urged the court to uphold the lower court’s decision.
Recall that during the trial in 2022, medical evidence presented by Dr. Aniekan Makanjuola, Head of Clinical Services at Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), supported the prosecution’s case.
Dr. Makanjuola testified that an examination of the victim revealed evidence of blunt penetration, consistent with the reported assault and the examination also revealed healed lacerations and other physical signs indicating past trauma.
The court admitted the medical report and referral letter as evidence (marked as Exhibit J and J1) following the doctor’s testimony.
However, the trial was then adjourned by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo until November 5 and 12, 2022, for further proceedings.
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