The Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, on Wednesday, declined to grant the bail application brought before it by embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha.
Baba Ijesha has been in police custody since April 22, 2021, when the Lagos State Police Command announced his arrest for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the care of popular comedienne, Adekola Adekanya, also known as Princess.
Anaedoonline.ng had earlier reported that Lagos State Attorney-General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, said Baba Ijesha might be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty in court.
See How Nigerians Reacted After Photo of Baba Ijesha Surfaced Online
“After due consideration of the facts in the case file, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions issued legal advice on the 4th of May, 2021, which is to the effect that a prima facie case has been disclosed against Mr Olanrewaju James and recommended he be charged under the following provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,” he had said.
On May 17, 2021, Baba Ijesha was granted bail by magistrates and judicial workers on tour to decongest prisons in the state during the industrial action by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria.
However, Baba Ijesha could not meet the bail conditions which included N500,000 and a level 16 civil servant as surety.
Baba Ijesha consequently appeared before the magistrate in Yaba on Wednesday.
Speaking with reporters after the arraignment today, one of the counsels for the suspect, Kayode Olabinran, said he prayed the court to grant his client bail on health grounds.
Tonto Dikeh: Baba Ijesha Must Not Be Granted Bail
He, however, said the magistrate declined to grant his client bail as the case was already filed at the High Court in Lagos by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in the state.
He said, “He was not granted bail because the case has been filed at the High Court and that has denied the (Magistrate) Court the power to grant him bail.”
Olabinran also said the date for the hearing at the High Court was not yet known.
Also, Baba Ijesha’s colleague, Yomi Fabiyi, who was in court in solidarity with the actor, said, “justice must not be dispensed with personal sentiment.”
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