Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, is to be arraigned at an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday, June 24, 2021, over allegations of sexual assault of a minor.
The actor has been in Police custody since April 22 following his arrest. He is to stand trial before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on June 24 the judge’s case list has revealed.
The matter is listed on the case list of the Court.
The embattled Nollywood actor, was arraigned Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at the Yaba Magistrate Court, which denied him bail.
He was arraigned on a four-count charge of sexual assault, sexual assault by penetration, attempted rape, and indecent treatment of a child.
These offences contravene Sections 261, 262, 263, and 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).
Defilement and sexual assault by penetration carry life imprisonment. The other three attract seven, three and 14 years’ imprisonment, respectively, under sections 135, 137, 261, 262 and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
He pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
The prosecutor, ASP Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in 2013 and on April 19, 2021, at No. 13, Wegbo St., Iwaya, Lagos State.
He further told the court that Baba Ijesha earlier assaulted the girl sexually in 2013, when she was just seven years old by using his private part and a key to rub the private part of the minor.
Furthermore, Nurudeen said that the defendant sexually assaulted the minor again when she was 14 years old by touching all parts of her body indecently and having indecent deals with her that she could not legally consent to.
Chief Magistrate P.E. Nwaka took the defendant’s plea but ruled that his bail application should be taken at the Lagos High Court, to which the case was transferred.
Nwaka had adjourned the case until July 14 for mention.
Baba Ijesha’s troubles followed reports that he sexually molested a 14-year-old girl in the care of Adekola Adekanya, a popular comedienne otherwise known as Princess.
Although he was granted a bail in May, he could not meet the conditions, which included N500,000 bond and a level 16 civil servant as surety.
