Lagos State Closes Case On Baba Ijesha
The Lagos State government has dropped its case against actor Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha, who is on trial for defilement in an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
Baba Ijesha is accused of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration, among other charges. To the six-count charge, he has pled not guilty.
On Wednesday, Olayinka Adeyemi, Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), announced that the case had been ended following the defense’s cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness.
“The prosecution’s case against the defendant is now concluded,” she stated.
Following the DPP’s statement, Mr Kayode Olabiran, the defense lawyer, informed the court that the defense planned to file a no-case submission.
Meanwhile, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo previously decided that Baba Ijesha’s police confession was admissible in evidence. According to reports, in November, the judge ordered a trial-within-trial to examine whether his confession was given voluntarily. After the accused claimed during the testimony of police inspector Abigail Omane, who collected his statement after receiving a report of alleged defilement, that she roughed him up and ordered him to sit on the floor during interrogation, she was fired.
He went on to say that the complainant, Damilola Adekoya nicknamed Princess, reportedly provided all of the details on the officer’s statement and that he was compelled to sign it under threat of additional detention if he refused.
The court found that there was no evidence to support the claims of torture or that the defendant signed the confession under pressure as the trial-within-trial ended on Wednesday.
“His assertion that Inspector Abigail promised to let him leave early isn’t backed up; it’s her word against his.” The confessional statement is judged to be relevant and acceptable notwithstanding the fact that I sat on the floor.”
Following the ruling, the court accepted the statement as part of the trial exhibits.
