Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, a prominent actor in the Nigerian film industry, has taken his case to the Court of Appeal in the Lagos Division, seeking to overturn his conviction by the Lagos State High Court for the sexual assault of a minor.
The conviction was handed down by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd.) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on July 14, 2022, who sentenced Baba Ijesha to five years in prison for his heinous crime.
However, dissatisfied with the judgment, Baba Ijesha has decided to challenge his five-year jail term by approaching the appeal court. Represented by his counsel, Kayode Olabiran, Baba Ijesha argued on April 23 that he was framed and that his actions were part of a scripted scenario that he was invited to participate in by his colleague, Damilola Adekoya.
In his defense, Olabiran stated, “The Appellant was set up. The Appellant is an actor. He acted in a script that he was invited to act by his colleague (PW1), Damilola Adekoya.” This claim suggests that Baba Ijesha was manipulated into committing the sexual assault, further emphasizing his innocence in the matter.
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On the other hand, the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, countered the defense’s argument, urging the court to dismiss the appeal on the grounds of lacking merit and misconceptions.
He strongly advocated for the affirmation of the lower court’s judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of the crime committed by Baba Ijesha and the need for justice to be served.
The Court of Appeal will now carefully consider the arguments presented by both sides before making a decision on whether to set aside Baba Ijesha’s conviction or uphold the judgment of the lower court.
This case has garnered significant attention and highlights the importance of addressing sexual assault crimes and ensuring that justice is served for the victims.
