Nollywood actor and comedian, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha has bagged 16 years imprisonment over sexual assault.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court sentenced Baba Ijesha on Thursday.
Justice Taiwo found the defendant guilty of two of the six counts against him.
Baba Ijesha was convicted for sexually assaulting the 14-year-old daughter of his colleague, actress, and comedienne, Damilola Adekoya with a stage name Princess.
Baba Ijesha is facing six counts of child defilement that include indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.
The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) proffered six counts of child defilement that include indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration against the actor.
It argued that the offences contravene Section 135, 137, 261, 202, 262, and 263 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015, which stipulates life imprisonment for offenders.
Although Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to all the counts, a Closed-Circuit Television video recording detailing his relationship with the victim said to be a minor was played in court.
Justice Taiwo, while delivering the judgement said that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of all the charges against him.
She, however, found the defendant guilty of two of the six counts against him.
The defendant was arraigned on June 24, 2021. During the trial, six prosecution witnesses testified against him.
The witnesses include actress and comedienne, Princess, the 14-year-old minor, a child expert, Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode, and a medical doctor, Dr Aniekan Makanjuola.
Others were the Investigating Police Officer, Wahab Kareem, and a policewoman, Inspector Abigail Omane.
The DPP closed its case against the defendant on December 15, 2021, while Baba Ijesha called four witnesses and closed its defence on April 1.
The defence witnesses include Baba Ijesha (defendant) and Lawrence Ayeni, an expert in video production and CCTV installation and maintenance.
Olukayode Olugbemi, a clinical psychologist, and Olukayode Ogunbanjo, the defendant’s friend and colleague also testified for the defence.
The defence counsel, Dada Awosika (SAN), in adopting his final written address dated May 12 and filed on May 16, urged the court to dismiss the suit and discharge the defendant.
Awosika argued that the footage of the CCTV was illegally obtained.
He had said, “In the interest of justice, exhibit A which was the CCTV footage that recalled the event was illegally obtained.
