Drama in court as Baba Ijesha clashes with police inspector who arrested him for alleged child molestation
Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, took to the witness stand today to face questions in the pre-trial hearing of the allegations of child molestation filed against him.
Baba Ijesha faces a six-count charge of sexual assault by penetration, indecent treatment of a child, and sexual assault, which contravene sections 259, 135, and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, as well as 135, 263, and 262 Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
His victim, who is the goddaughter of comedienne Damilola Adekoya, aka Princess, was seven years old when he started molesting her, it was alleged. Baba Ijesha and Princess reportedly had a sort of friendship that has since unravelled.
Friday’s proceedings saw Baba Ijesha counter the testimony of the police officer, Inspector Omame Abigail, who arrested him on April 19. The actor also said things in court that a source familiar with the case dismissed as “pure lies”.
Inspector Abigail told the court that Baba Ijesha signed a statement she helped him write minutes after he was arrested and taken to Sabo police station in Yaba, Lagos. She said the actor, who appeared distraught, agreed that she should write the statement while he answered her questions and provide other details.
“When I asked him if he knew why he was arrested, Baba Ijesha replied that ‘I molested my friend’s daughter,” Inspector Abigail told the court.
But Baba Ijesha denied making the comment and fired back that even the statement the prosecution brought to the court was written under pressure. He accused Inspector Abigail of assaulting him and promising to release him if he signed the incriminating statement.
“She told me to sit down on the floor and she hit me while saying so and I obeyed her,” the actor claimed.
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When Baba Ijesha’s lawyer asked Inspector Abigail why she promised to release the actor if he signed the statement, she replied, “I never said that because I didn’t have the power to release him.” She also said Baba Ijesha chose to sit on the floor at the police station even after she offered him a seat.
But Baba Ijesha insisted that he signed the statement under duress, alleging that Princess was the one who supplied all the information Inspector Abigail put in the statement. He also alleged that Princess pressured the police to ensure that he signed it
The actor also claimed that he was assaulted, handcuffed, arrested and thrown into a cell on April 19.
He said that his cloth was torn on that day, a claim Inspector Abigail confirmed but the police officer added that she was not the one who tore the actor’s cloth. She also denied assaulting Baba Ijesha.
“Baba Ijesha is lying. The lies were too much today. His cloth was actually torn by the girl he sexually violated moments before he was arrested,” a source later told GoldMyne TV.
“He kept lying that Princess was behind it all but Princess was even too emotionally down to influence the statement Baba Ijesha signed at the police station. She was crying at the police station. She didn’t get herself all. She didn’t influence the statement because she was too devastated to do that. Baba Ijesha is lying.
“He is begging Princess to forgive her and drop the case,” the source said.
The case was adjourned to December 2 so that the court can decide whether or not to admit Baba Ijesha’s statement as evidence.
The actor’s lawyers want the statement dismissed because it was, according to them, obtained under duress. They were also able to get Inspector Abigail to admit that she did not sign the statement but the judge said that was no big issue.
The inspector said she was also the one who wrote the statement signed by the claimant. She said the claimant and Baba Ijesha agreed to this because they said they were both emotionally out of place to write.
The claimant and Baba Ijesha, she said, checked and agreed to their respective statements before signing them.
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