Popular Nigerian actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, also known as Baba Ijesha, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges bordering on rape, sexual assault and abuse of a minor levelled against him.
Appearing before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, Baba Ijesha wore a white hooded jacket and a mask.
The actor is being tried over charges bothering on rape, sexual assault and abuse of a minor by the State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
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Appearing before Justice Taiwo, the state counsel, Olayinka Adeyemi said that the state had filed six counts of charges against the defendant urging the court to take the plea of the defendant.
A prayer was granted and Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him.
Subsequently, Adeyemi asked for a trial date while asking the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending commencement of trial.
In a counter-reaction, the defendant counsel, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), informed the court that the defence team had filed a bail application and have served the same on the prosecuting team.
He urged the court to grant them an audience to argue the bail application.
However, the state counsel, Adeyemi opposed the prayer stating that her team is yet to verify the medical report which the defence relies on for his bail consideration.
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In a short ruling, Justice Taiwo granted the request of the defence team and asked parties to argue the bail application.
Recall that the embattled actor 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 Princess.
Baba Ijesha in May 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 include N500,000 and a level 16 civil servant as surety.
He was subsequently arraigned before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba last Wednesday on charges bordering on rape, sexual assault and abuse of a minor.
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The actor 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 contravene sections 135, 137, 261, 202, 262 and 263 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon his arraignment before the magistrates’ court, Omiyinka’s lawyer, Kayode Olabiran, made a fresh application for his bail, but Magistrate Peter Nwaka refused the application on the grounds that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice had filed charges before a high court.
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