S£xual A§§ault: Appeal Court upholds popular Nollywood actor Baba Ijesha’s five-year jail term

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos state has affirmed the five-year jail term sentence of popular Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, professionally known as Baba Ijesha, for s£xually a§§aulting a 14-year-old minor.

It could be recall that the convicted Ijesha was sentenced to five years in prison on 14th of July, 2022 by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (rtd) of the Lagos State High Court.

The appellate court in its lead judgment by Justice Folashade Ojo (presided) found the appellant (Baba Ijesha) guilty on counts 4 and 5, where he was accused of indecently touching a minor and s+xually a§§aulted her.

Other members of the panel, Justice Abdullahi Bayero and Justice Paul Bassi agreed with the lead judgement.

Delivering judgment on the appeal on Thursday, 27th of June, 2024, Justice Folashade Ojo set aside appellant’s conviction on indecent treatment of a child and s+xual a§§ault of a minor which allegedly occurred between 2013 and 2014, describing the testimony of PW1 (Damilola Adekoya) as hearsay.

Justice Ojo, however held that on the event that occurred on 19th of April, 2021, the evidence of PW1 (Damilola Adekoya) was an eye witness account, adding that an eye witness account remains credible and one of the most effective ways to established commission of an offence.

The court held that the appellant’s voluntarily confessed to the crime of of April 19, 2021, and did not challenge the statement of (PW1), Damilola Adekoya throughout the proceeding. [CONTINUE READING HERE]>>>>