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    Baba Ijesha pleads not guilty in alleged defilement case against a minor

    Embattled Nollywood actor, Omiyinka Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has pleaded not guilty to the rape, sexual assault and abuse of a minor charges filed against him by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions at a Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja.

    Baba Ijesha is currently being arraigned before the Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo-led court

    During the court proceedings, counsel to the Lagos state government, Olayinka Adeyemi, informed the court that the state had filed six-count charges against the defendant urging the court to take the plea of the defendant.

    The prayer was granted and Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him. Subsequently, Mrs. Adeyemi asked for a trial date while asking the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending commencement of trial.

    In a counter-reaction, the legal team of the actor which had among it two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Ogala and Mr. Dada Awosika, along with 17 others, informed the court that they had filed a bail application and have served same on the prosecuting team. Ogala urged the court to grant them an 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 relied on for his bail consideration.

    In a short ruling, Justice Taiwo granted the request of the defense team and asked both parties to argue the bail application. During the argument of the bail application, Awosika (SAN), prayed the court to grant the defendant bail in liberal terms.

    “I will wish to note that the issue of bail, especially on an offence of this nature, is a constitutional right. This is a right the defendant has been deprived of for the past 48 days when he was unlawfully held by the police. We are also not unconscious of the JUSUN strike which made it difficult to bring him to court.

    “Imagine if this man is kept in detention for many years and is found innocent, will there be any restitution? No. Justice and fairness should be done,” he said.

    On her part, Adeyemi asked the court to deny the actor bail. According to her, the actor is a flight risk and can influence witnesses if granted bail.

    “I want to bring to my lord’s attention the nature of one of the offences – sexual assault by penetration – which carries life imprisonment.

    Bail is a discretionary right, it is not a constitutional right.

    On the nature of the offence and the strength of the evidence, there is a prima facie case before your lordship.

    The court should take judicial notice of the crime which is rampant in society” she said

    Adeyemi said that prosecution had six witnesses in the case.

    The judge is yet to rule on the bail application.