Judiciary

An Ikeja Special Offences Court will on Monday rule on a bail application filed by Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha, whether the convict has met special circumstances for the court to grant him bail.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo fixed the date after taking arguments from both the prosecuting and defence counsel.

The bail application is sequel to the jail term that was handed down to Baba Ijesha by Justice Taiwo, who sentenced him to a five-year concurrent jail term.

However, his legal team is in court to appeal the judgment.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, one of the convict’s counsels, Chukwudi Adiukwu, told the court that the team brought to notice for bail pending the appeal pursuant to Section 6 (6) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 51 of the High Court Law of Lagos State, Administration of Criminal Justice Law, admitting the applicant to bail, either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions.

Speaking on the special circumstances, Adiukwu explained that the application was taken before Justice Taiwo, as securing a date at the Court of Appeal might be difficult considering the number of cases before the court.

He stated that with the prison month calendar, the convict would have served his five years concurrent jail term within three years and six months before the hearing might take place at the Appeal Court.

He added that Baba Ijesha was of good conduct before the court during his trial, and was never absent till the judgement.

He, therefore, urged the court to consider the special circumstances to grant bail to the convict.

Reacting to this, the state prosecuting counsel, Omowunmi Bajulaye-Bishi, said the defence counsel in their address failed to establish the special circumstances which may grant Baba Ijesha bail; therefore asking the court not to grant bail to the convict.

Justice Taiwo adjourned to September 19, 2022, for ruling.

Punch/ Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Crime

The special offences courts unit of the Lagos state high court has granted Baba Ijesha, the embattled Nigerian actor, bail in the sum of two million naira.

Baba Ijesha was arrested and detained by the Lagos police after he was alleged to have sexually molested a 14-year-old girl.

The 48-year-old was arraigned before the court on Thursday on a six-count charge which include sexual assault by penetration, indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault.

Others are indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault and attempted sexual assault by penetration.

During the trial, the actor, whose real name is Olanrewaju James, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

Babatunde Ogala, his counsel, also prayed the court to grant his client’s bail application while the trial continues, noting that he has been deprived of his constitutional right since his arrest in April.

The senior advocate of Nigeria SAN argued that his client was wrongly accused and is being tried without evidence to substantiate the allegations against him.

He said the defendant should be given adequate time to prepare for his trial and access to his lawyer, adding that there are people ready to stand as sureties for him.

But reacting, Olayinka Adeyemi, the state director of public prosecution DPP, urged the court to deny the actor’s bail application.

Buttressing her point, Adeyemi described the offences brought against the actor as “grave” in nature, citing the sexual assault charge which carries life imprisonment.

The prosecuting counsel said the court should be careful in its handling of the bail application, noting that the defendant could jump bail while his popularity could also affect the evidence against him in the case.

In her ruling, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the judge, ordered that the actor be released on bail while the trail continuues.

Taiwo said the defendant must bring the amount alongside two sureties — one of which must be a legal practitioner and the second a family relation.

The judge, however, said that the actor must perfect the bail terms and conditions within the next seven days.

She said the trial would begin on July 26 through 27 and 28 respectively.

The development comes days after a magistrate court quashed his bail application on the ground that the matter was already beyond its jurisdiction.

thecable.ng

Judiciary

A Magistrate Court in Yaba area of Lagos State presided over by Magistrate P. Nwaka has directed that full medical attention should be accorded the popular actor, Omiyinka Olanrewaju also known as “Baba Ijesha” currently on trial for alleged child molestation.

The magistrate however refused the fresh bail application on the grounds that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has filed charges before a High Court.

Baba Ijesha appeared in court in a blue top and clutching a motivational book titled “How to thrive in a perilous time”.

Earlier, the accused was granted bail, but was unable to perfect the conditions of the bail especially as getting a level 16 Officer in the civil service proved to be a huge task for him.

It was gathered that he was allowed to sit during the proceeding as he claimed he was not feeling fine.

He is facing trial over charges bothering on rape, sexual assault and abuse of a minor and he was brought into the premises of the magistrate court around 12 p.m. on Wednesday.

He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to him.

He was charged with indecent treatment of a child, defilement of a child, sexual assault by penetration, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault – which contravenes Sections 135, 137, 261, 202, 262 and 263 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015.

The Prosecutor, S.A Adebesin informed the court that an information had been filed before the High Court.

Responding, Baba Ijesha’s lawyer, Kayode Olabiran made a fresh application for bail which was rejected.

It would be recalled that the defendant was earlier granted bail on May 17 in a Special Court session arranged during the strike by the Judiciary Workers Union of Nigeria, JUSUN.

He was directed to produce two sureties, one being a relative of the defendant and another a level 16 officer of the Lagos State Civil Service, and a bail bond in the sum of 500,000 naira, but he was unable to meet these conditions.

The matter has been adjourned to July 13, 2021 for mention.

Abisola Oluremi