Alleged Sexual Assault: Lagos State Closes Case In Baba Ijesha’s Trial

The prosecution team of the Lagos State Government has closed its case against Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James popularly known as Baba Ijesha.

He is standing trial at the Sexual Offences Court sitting in Ikeja over allegations of defiling a minor.

The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi told the court on Wednesday that it was closing its case after the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness.

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Following the DPP’s statement, the defence counsel, Mr Kayode Olabiran announced to the court that the defence team intends to file a no-case submission.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said the no-case submission will be taken in the year as “the court is rounding up” for 2021.

Before this, the court ruled on the confessional statement made by the defendant to the police.

Justice Taiwo held that it was admissible as evidence.

She also ruled that there was no evidence before the court that proved that the Nollywood actor was tortured into giving the statement to the police.

She noted that there was no corroboration to the defendant’s claim that a police officer, one Inspector Abigail Omane had promised to set him free if he owned up to the allegations. She described as an afterthought the defendant’s application stating the same.

“Sitting on the floor does not vitiate the confessional statement. The statement is found to be relevant and admissible,” the judge said.

Following the ruling, the last prosecution witness, Inspector Abigail Omane resumed her evidence.

The police officer told the court that after she had taken the evidence of the defendant, she had taken all the parties in the case to the office of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

“Thereafter the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti,” she said.

While being cross-examined by Olabiran, Omane threw more light on why the defendant’s shirt was torn when he was brought to the police station.

“The survivor told us that she was the one that beat him. There was no report of harassment of the complainant at the police station.

“I’m not aware if the police were informed prior to the installation of the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the complainant’s house,” she said.

The case has been adjourned to January 26 for the adoption of the no-case submission of the defendant.