Why Baba Ijesha Entered A Not Guilty Plea To Charges Of Child Abuse

Why Baba Ijesha entered a not guilty plea to charges of child Abuse

 

Olanrewaju Omiyinka, also known as Baba Ijesha, pleaded not guilty to child molestation accusations in a Lagos Special Offences Court on Thursday.

 

 

iexclusive News Nigeria report that the actor entered a not guilty plea to six counts of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.

 

Sections 135, 259, 262, 263 and 262 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015, are violated.

Following the plea, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), moved that the defendant be remanded by the court.

 

Lead defence counsel, Mr Dada Awosika (SAN), requested the court to grant the defendant bail in generous terms in a bail application accompanied by a 29-paragraph affidavit.

 

The bail application was made in accordance with Sections 105(2) and (3) of the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice Law of 2015, as well as Sections 35 and 36 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution of 1999. (as amended).

 

“It is important to highlight that the issue of bail, particularly for an offense of this sort, is a constitutional right.

 

This is a right that Baba Ijesha has been denied for the last 48 days while being wrongfully detained by police.

“We are also not unaware of the JUSUN strike, which made bringing him to court difficult,” he added.

The counsel urged the court to give bail to the defendant Baba Ijesha , claiming that it was provided by the 1999 Constitution.

 

“What if this individual is imprisoned for several years and is eventually declared innocent? Will there be any restitution? No.

“Justice and fairness must be served,” he stated.

Adeyemi responded by requesting that the defendant be refused bail.

If granted bail, the defendant, she claims, poses a flight risk and has the ability to influence witnesses.

 

“I would want to draw my lord’s attention to the nature of one of the offenses, sexual assault by penetration, which carries a life sentence.

 

Bail is not a constitutional right; it is a discretionary right.

 

There is a prima facie case before your lordship based on the nature of the offense and the weight of the evidence.

 

“The court should take judicial notice of the prevalent crime in society,” she stated.

 

According to Adeyemi, the prosecution had six witnesses in the case.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo halted proceedings in order to rule on the bail application.