Sexual Assault: Witness Scared To Testify Against Baba Ijesha In Court, Prosecutor Tells Judge

By Edna Wande On Nov 12, 2021

Prosecution team of Lagos State Government has told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that one of the witnesses set to testify against Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha is scared to testify in court.

State counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, made the disclosure on Friday while explaining the absence of two witnesses slated to testify against the actor in his ongoing trial for sexual assault.

He said;

My lord, the first witness is a police officer, he could not come to court today because he has been transferred and needs to get permission from where he was posted.

The second witness could not come to court; he is jittery, he is scared to come to court. My lord, we will ensure that all the witnesses are in court by next week Friday.

Following the submission, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until November 19 for continuation of trial.

Baba Ijesha was on the 24th of June arraigned before the court on six count charge bordering on the indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 135, 259, 262, 263, and 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

According to the charge, the defendant committed the offence in 2013, 2014 and on April 19 at Iwaya, Yaba area of Lagos.

The charge sheet read;

Sometime between 2013 and 2014, the defendant sexually abused the complainant (name withheld), then aged seven, by inserting his car keys into her vagina.vHe also placed her on his laps, touched her in a sexual manner, and rubbed his penis on her body.

On April 19, he indecently treated and sexually assaulted the complainant, now 14, by sucking her fingers and touching her in a sexual manner.

He also attempted to have sexual intercourse with the complainant by unbuckling his belt and unzipping his trousers after sexually assaulting her,” the DPP told the court.

Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to the six counts and was granted bail in the sum of N2million with two sureties.

Five witnesses have testified so far for the prosecution.

They include the alleged victim and her foster mother, actress and comedienne Damilola Adekoya alias Princess.

The 14-year-old victim (name withheld), gave her testimony behind closed doors because of the law protecting minors from undue public exposure.

The others are a child expert, Mrs Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode; a medical doctor, Dr Aniekan Makanjuola; and a police officer, ASP Wahab Kareem.