Gbenga Adeyinka, Iyabo Ojo, Princess present as Baba Ijesha’s lawyers cross examine child rights expert, court adjourns case
Counsel to Nollywood actor Olarewaju James, a.k.a. Baba Ijesha, on Wednesday, mounted a legal defence on behalf of the embattled entertainer who has been accused of sexually molesting a minor.
The court watched a video of Baba Ijesha’s alleged victim being interviewed by child rights advocate, Bisi Ajayi Kayode. In the video, the said victim narrated how Baba Ijesha allegedly molested her with his sex organ and, later, with a car key.
Princess, the celebrity at the forefront of demanding justice for the alleged victim, was present in court. Comedian Gbenga Adeyinka and Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo were there too.
After the tape was played, the actor’s lawyers questioned the expert.
The cross examination of the expert witness found that:.
1. The witness had no academic qualification in the field of psychology
2. No academic institution trained the expert witness in child forensics
3. The video interview was taped on May 15
4. The expert witness used an interview method Baba Ijesha’s lawyers said was not backed by Nigerian law
Baba Ijesha’s lawyers sought to know how the said victim could have had the capacity to recall what allegedly happened when she was seven years old.
The expert witness explained to the court how the brain and memory of a seven-year-old develops.
When asked how she determined that the child’s narration wasn’t false, the expert witness stated that she determined the verification of the victim’s narrative.
The interview was played again to see whether or not the verification was made, which was done at the beginning of the clip. The witness went on to state that she asked open ended questions.
According to the child advocate, when the alleged victim was brought in, there was a multidisciplinary team session before the recorded interview session.
Here are other questions and answers from the cross examination:
Q: Was there any police officer when this interview was conducted?
A: No, there was supposed to be an IPO present but he was indisposed but they were asked to go ahead.
Q: Was the recording done by you?
A: Yes.
The defence counsel also asked if the child was neglected. In one instance the child was relaxed, in the other, she was traumatised, the expert witness said. She received help from family members, the witness said.
“The totality of your report is hearsay and that is not correct according to the witness,” the defence argued.
Baba Ijesha’s lawyers also claimed that the protocol used to conduct the interview are not under Nigerian laws.
The protocol used to conduct the interview was enacted in the US 1980 and adopted in 1990 then spread to the world, we gathered.
Dada Awosika from the defence counsel said the protocols were just mere interview guidelines and the witness would be surprised if there was no backing by any legislation.
Awosika argued that the witness wasn’t certified by any academic institution concerning child forensics but according to her, she is trained and has her certificate but not from an academic institution.
In order to examine anyone, you must have an academic background in law or in a medical field to be trained and certified, Awosika argued.
“Please point out signatures of those who backed your report on the victims interview,” the defence lawyer demanded.
The expert witness replied that the multidisciplinary committee, with their members in the observation room during the interview, adopted her report.
The case was adjourned to October 21.
