Alleged defilement: Lagos State closes case in Baba Ijesha’s trial

The prosecution team of the Lagos State Government has closed its case against Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha facing trial at an Ikeja Special Offences Court over allegations of defilement.

Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, the Lagos State Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) made this known on Wednesday after the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness by the defence.

“The prosecution will be closing its case against the defendant,” the DPP said.

Following the DPP’s statement, the defence counsel Mr Kayode Olabiran announced to the court that the defence intends to file a no-case submission.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said
“We will take the no-case submission in the new year, the court is rounding up,”

Earlier Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo in a ruling said that Baba Ijesha’s confessional statement to the police was admissible as evidence.

The judge ruled that there was no evidence before the court which proved that the embattled Nollywood actor was tortured into giving the statement to the police.

She noted that claims that a police officer, Insp Abigail Omane had promised to set him free if he owned up to the allegations were not corroborated and described the defendant’s application to the court as an afterthought.

“Sitting on the floor does not vitiate the confessional statement. The statement is found to be relevant and admissible,” the judge said.

Following the ruling, the last prosecution witness, Insp Abigail Omane resumed her evidence.

The police officer informed told the court that after she had taken the evidence of the defendant, she had taken all the parties in the case to the office of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

“Thereafter the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti,” she said.

While being cross-examined by Olabiran, Omane threw more light on why the defendant’s shirt was torn when he was brought to the police station.

“The survivor told us that she was the one that beat him. There was no report of harassment of the complainant at the police station three-years ago.

“I’m not aware if the police were informed prior to the installation of the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the complainant’s house,” she said.

The case was adjourned until Jan. 26, 2022 for adoption of the no-case submission.