Sexual assault: Baba Ijesha granted N2m bail

Baba Ijesha

By Akin Kuponiyi.

    The presiding judge   of a Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, today  granted Nollywood actor, Omiyinka Olanrewaju James, a.k.a Baba Ijesha two million naira bail with two sureties in like sum.

    The sureties must be  residents of Lagos with visible house address, and payment of three years tax.

“One of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant,who will enter a N1 million bond with the Chief Register of Lagos State and One of the sureties must also be a legal practitioner”

Justice Taiwo granted the embattled actor bail after entertaining arguements from defence and the prosecuting counsels.

Arguing the bail application,  Babatunde Ogala SAN with another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dada Awosika, leading 17 other lawyers stated that the bail application was brought pursuant to Section 105(2) and (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2015, and Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

He urged the court to grant Baba Ijesha bail in a liberal terms noting that he is presumed innocent pending judgement over the matter.

According to Ogala, the defendant also ought to be granted bail considering his popularity and the credible sureties to be provided.

    However,the state counsel, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi  stated that the offences contravene sections 135, 137, 261, 2020 262 and 263 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015, urged the court to consider the gravity of the offense and refuse the defendant bail.

According to her, the defendant is a flight risk and can influence witnesses, if granted bail.

Adeyemi said that prosecution had six witnesses in the case.

The actor is being tried over charges bordering on rape, sexual assault and abuse of a minor by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions DPP.

Appearing before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the state counsel, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi said that the state had filed six counts charges against the defendant urging the court to take the plea of the defendant.

A prayer which was granted and Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to all the counts levelled against him.

Subsequently, Mrs Adeyemi asked for a trial date while asking court to remand the defendant in correctional facility pending commencement of trial.

    In a counter reaction, the defendant counsel, Ogala SAN informed the court that the defence team had filed a bail application and have served same on the prosecuting team.

He urged the court to grant them audience to argue the bail application.

However, the state counsel, Mrs Adeyemi opposed the prayer stating that her team is yet to verify the medical report which the defence rely on for his bail consideration.

In a short ruling, Justice Taiwo granted the request of the defence team and asked parties to argue the bail

 The case has been adjourned to 26, 27 and 28.for trial.