Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja has sentenced popular Nollywood comedian, Olanrewaju James, alias Baba Ijesha to 16 years imprisonment.
Baba Ijesha, who was arraigned by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, for defiling a 14-year-old girl, was charged with six counts of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.
The victim is a foster child of Nigeria comedienne and actress, Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess,
DPP’s Director, Dr Babajide Martins had, in his final written address dated May 31, urged the court to convict the defendant with the Close-Circuit Television (CCTV) evidence as he had also admitted he never mentioned that he was acting a script when he was detained by the police at Sabo and Panti.
The defence counsel, Dada Awosika (SAN), however urged the court to dismiss the suit while adopting his final written address dated May 12 and filed on May 16, arguing that the footage was already tampered and was also obtained illegally.
Awosika, while urging the court to disregard the defendant’s confessional statement, said it was strange to have even accused him of committing a crime seven years ago, which was not reported to the police.
Delivering judgement, Justice Taiwo convicted Baba Ijesha of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault and attempted sexual assault but discharged and acquitted him of sexual assault by penetration and attempted sexual assault by penetration.
She held that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty of all the charges against him.
The judge consequently sentenced him to three years on count two, five years on count three, three years on count four and five years on count five.
The terms would run concurrently for five years, the longest of the sentences.