Baba Ijesha denied bail, case transferred to high court

The Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, On Wednesday, declined the bail application of the Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, Popularly known as Baba Ijesha

The actor wore a blue t-shirt, was taken to court in a black maria Vehicle of the Rapid Command Response Squad. The actor was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the care of popular Comedienne, Adekola Adekanya, known as Princess and he has been in police custody since April 22, 2021.

It was earlier reported that the Lagos State Attorney-General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, said Baba Ijesha might be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty in court.

“After due consideration of the facts in the case file, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions issued legal advice on the 4th of May, 2021, which is to the effect that a prima facie case has been disclosed against Mr Olanrewaju James and recommended he be charged under the following provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,” he had said.

RNN recall On May 17, 2021, Baba Ijesha was granted bail by magistrates and judicial workers on tour to decongest prisons in the state during the industrial action by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria.

However, Baba Ijesha could not meet the bail conditions which include N500,000 and a level 16 civil servant as surety. He appeared before the Magistrate in Yaba on Wednesday.

One of the counsels for the suspect, Kayode Olabinran, while speaking with reporters after the arraignment today, said he prayed the court to grant bail on health grounds

He, however, said the magistrate declined to grant his client bail as the case was already filed at the High Court in Lagos by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in the state.

He said,

“He was not granted bail because the case has been filed at the High Court and that has denied the (Magistrate) Court the power to grant him bail.”

Olabinran also said the date for the hearing at the High Court was not yet known.

Also, Baba Ijesha’s colleague, Yomi Fabiyi, who has been supporting Baba Ijesha was in court in solidarity with the actor, said “justice must not be dispensed with justice with the personal sentiment”.