Veteran Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka popularly known as Baba Ijesha, Thursday appeared before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja Judicial Council over allegations of sexual assault against a minor between 20213/2014 and sometime in April 2021.
Baba Ijesha was formally arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court where he pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge brought against him by the prosecution counsel representing the Lagos State government.
The defendant, represented by his counsel, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), urged the court to grant Baba Ijesha bail on liberal terms which he affirmed was his constitutional right denied him since his arrest in April 2021. He concluded that his client has been wrongly accused based on suspicion.
The Defence Counsel later requested that the court grant him time to prepare for the trial and also have access to his client.
He explained that the defendant is highly disposed to sureties who are ever ready to stand for him as the defendant may not jump bail.
The Director of Public Prosecution representing the Lagos State government, Olayinka Adeyemi, however, opposed the bail application of the defence counsel. She explained that the nature of the offences, one of which is sexual assault carries a life sentence. She also alleged that the defendant may jump bail and could interfere with the evidence.
In the ruling on the bail application, Justice Taiwo granted the defendant and Nollywood actor two million naira bail with two sureties in like sum who must be resident in Lagos.
The state prosecutor will provide six witnesses during the trial.
The case was later adjourned till 26th of June 2021 for the trial to begin in earnest.
Earlier, while arguing his bail application in the renewed trial immediately after his plea, counsel for Baba Ijesha urged the court to grant his client bail on the grounds that the offence was bailable and given the popularity of the accused person.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Taiwo while dismissing the request of counsel, noted that the matter is also before another court and, therefore, improper to grant the bail application on the same matter.
Before the latest arraignment Thursday, the Nollywood actor was previously arraigned on June 16, 2021, at a Yaba Magistrate Court over allegations of indecent treatment of a 14-year-old girl in April, this year contrary to relevant sections of the laws of Lagos State which criminalizes the act of the Nollywood actor.
