Baba Ijesha Sentenced To 16 Years In Prison For Sexual Assault
Nollywood actor and comedian Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha, was given a 16-year prison term for sexual assault by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offenses Court.
On Thursday, Justice Taiwo issued the ruling and added that the jail sentence would be served concurrently.
Baba Ijesha was found guilty of sexually assaulting Damilola Adekoya’s 14-year-old daughter, who went by the stage name Princess and was an actress and comedienne colleague of his.
Remember that in April 2021, Nigerian Police agents detained Baba Ijesha for having sex with the victim since she was seven years old.
Princess at Sabo Police Station reported him to the authorities on April 19, 2021. For a proper investigation, he was then transferred to the Gender Unit of the State CID, Panti, Yaba Lagos.
A CCTV camera at the complainant’s home also managed to record the suspect after he confessed to the crime.
A few days later, Baba Ijesha was charged with child defilement on six counts, including allegations of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, sexual assault by penetration, and indecent treatment of a child.
It was decided in subsequent court proceedings that the CCTV recordings of Baba Ijesha might have been tampered with.
Adeleke Lawrence, a defense witness, and specialist in CCTV installation and maintenance made this suggestion in February 2022 in front of an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offenses Court the previous year.
Lawrence made a reference to this when being questioned by Babatunde Ogala (SAN) during the Nollywood comedian’s ongoing trial.
Following Ogala’s request, the proceedings were resumed with the playing of four videos of Baba Ijesha.
The lawsuit was resolved at the last court session in June 2022, and the final decision was set for July 14, 2022.
The judge decided that there was no proof in the case that the troubled Nollywood star was forced to give the police statement through torture.
