Embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has said Adeshina Ogunlana, a former Chairman of Ikeja Branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is not his counsel.
The actor is being detained by the police for alleged sexual assault and defilement of the 14-year-old foster daughter of comedienne, Princess.
He was granted bail by a magistrate on Monday in spite of a strike by judiciary workers, however, he was still in custody, as at the time of filing this report.
Read Also: Breaking: Baba Ijesha Detained For Alleged Sexual Assault Granted Bail
In a copy of disclaimer made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, James said that he never briefed Ogunlana to be his legal representative.
It reads;
I wish to state categorically and emphatically that I have never briefed the lawyer nor instructed him to act on my behalf in any way, or manner howsoever and whatsoever.
He (Ogunlana) is not my lawyer, and whatever you heard or hear from him concerning my lawyers, the police or court case, does not represent the true position. He has been acting without my knowledge or consent.
Baba Ijesha in the disclaimer said police never demanded money from him for the bail, which was granted him by a magistrate on health grounds, as against Ogunlana’s recent statement.
Read Also: Bail: Why Baba Ijesha Is Still In Police Detention – Lawyer
The comic actor stated;
This is aside from the N500,000 refundable bail bond which formed part of my bail conditions ordered by the court. The bail bond is payable to the court registry’s account and not the police account.
Speaking to NAN on Saturday, Kayode Olabiran, counsel to Baba Ijesha noted that the actor was granted bail on May 17, by a team from Lagos State Judiciary, Nigerian Bar Association and the state Ministry of Justice.
Read Also: Baba Ijesha’s Lawyer Speaks On How He Was Granted Bail (Video)
The team visited State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Yaba, Lagos, in an effort to decongest police stations across Lagos State.
Olabiran said that though the actor had fulfilled all the bail conditions, he had yet to be formally released by the judiciary.
Read Also: Bail Application: Baba Ijesha’s Lawyer Writes Police, Laments Client’s Deteriorating Health
He expressed;
He is not out of police custody, we are hoping that the judiciary, the team from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution will come again to Panti next week.
It is one thing to be granted bail and another for your release to be ordered upon meeting all the conditions.
That is the point we are at now. We are waiting for them (the judiciary) to come so we will present all the documents and his release will be ordered.
