Baba Ijesha Granted Bail on Health Grounds. Renowned Yoruba actor, Olanrewaju James well known as Baba Ijesha has just been granted bail, on health grounds.
The Yoruba actor has been in custody at the State CID, Panti, for allegedly s*xually assaulting a 14-year-old-girl in the home of comedienne Adekola Adekanya, popularly called ‘Princess.’
Due to the industrial strike by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), courts have been shut and cases adjourned.
The release of Baba Ijesha on Monday afternoon came as a result of magistrates going around police stations across Lagos State, listening to cases and giving hearing to those arrested.
Baba Ijesha’s case was the subject of national discourse and raised the topic of pedophilia and r@pe in Nigeria.
A lawyer told FIJ that Baba Ijesha’s release on health grounds sounded more like an easy way out. The case had been forwarded by the Domestic and S*xual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
His lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana, in a statement on Monday, May 17, said, “He has been granted bail about one hour ago. We are working to perfect the bail. He was granted bail on health grounds. He has not been released. He will be released after his bail conditions have been met.”
Among the bail conditions listed by the lawyer for Baba Ijesha’s release are two reliable sureties – one of them must be a level 10 officers, a direct blood relation, and N500,000 bail bond in like sum.
Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, had stated on May 4 that “the Ministry of Justice would not relent in its efforts in ensuring that whoever s*xually abuses any resident of Lagos State is speedily brought to book.”
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