The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has affirmed the five-year jail term sentence of Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, for s+xually a§§aulting a 14-year-old minor.
Recall that Ijesha was sentenced to five years in prison on July 14, 2022 by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (rtd) of the Lagos State High Court.
The appellate court in its lead judgment by Justice Folashade Ojo (presided) found the appellant (Baba Ijesha) guilty on counts 4 and 5, where he was accused of indecently touching a minor and s+xually a§§aulted her.
Other members of the panel, Justice Abdullahi Bayero and Justice Paul Bassi agreed with the lead judgement.
Delivering judgment on the appeal on Thursday, June 27, Justice Folashade Ojo set aside appellant’s conviction on indecent treatment of a child and s+xual a§§ault of a minor which allegedly occurred between 2013 and 2014, describing the testimony of PW1 (Damilola Adekoya) as hearsay.
Justice Ojo, however held that on the event that occurred on April 19, 2021, the evidence of PW1 (Damilola Adekoya) was an eye witness account, adding that an eye witness account remains credible and one of the most effective ways to established commission of an offence.
The court held that the appellant’s voluntarily confessed to the crime of of April 19, 2021, and did not challenge the statement of (PW1), Damilola Adekoya throughout the proceedings…(continue reading on next slide.)
