The trial of Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, alias Baba Ijesha has been rescheduled to continue on September 27. The trial earlier scheduled for yesterday and today could not be held due to the absence of the judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, who is currently attending the judge’s retreat alongside others.
Baba Ijesha, who was arraigned on June 24, is charged with six counts bordering on defilement of a minor.
The prosecution led by Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has, so far, presented two witnesses for the prosecution.
The first prosecution witness was comedienne, Ms. Damilola Adekoya alias Princess, who is the foster mother of the minor, while the second prosecution witness is the minor.
The two witnesses testified at the last court proceedings held on July 27. According to the charge, the defendant committed the offence in 2013, 2014, and on April 19, at Iwaya, Yaba area of Lagos.
“Sometime between 2013 and 2014, the defendant sexually abused the complainant then aged seven, by inserting his car keys into her vagina. He also placed her on his lap, touched her in a sexual manner, and rubbed his penis on her body.
“On April 19, he indecently treated and sexually assaulted the complainant, now 14, by sucking her fingers and touching her in a sexual manner. He also attempted to have sexual intercourse with the complainant by unbuckling his belt and unzipping his trousers after sexually assaulting her,” the DPP told the court.
The alleged offences contravene sections 135, 259, 262, 263, and 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
