By Seyifunmi Odunuga
The Magistrate sitting over the case involving the popular actor, Omiyinka Olanrewaju, popularly known as Baba Ijesa, P. Nwaka is currently on trial for an alleged child molestation at Magistrates Court One at Yaba area of Lagos State, refused the fresh bail application for him on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.
The bail application was refused at the hearing of the case on the ground that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice had filed charges against the accused before a high court.
The magistrate, P. Nwaka however directed that full medical attention should be accorded him to make him medically fit.
•Omiyinka Olanrewaju a.k.a Baba Ijesa inside the court on Wednesday.
Baba Ijesa had appeared in court in blue top, clutching a motivational book entitled ‘How to thrive in a perilous time.’
After noticing that Baba Ijesa was not medically okay, the Magistrate directed that he be given a chair to sit in the dock during the proceedings.
Baba Ijesa who arrived at the court premises at about 12 noon, had been facing trial over charges bordering on sexual assault and abuse of a minor.
He was accused of indecent treatment of a child, defilement of a child, sexual assault by penetration, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault, all of which contravene Sections 135, 137, 261, 202, 262 and 263 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015.
He had pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to him.
The prosecutor, S.A Adebesin, had informed the court that information had been filed before the high court.
Responding, Baba Ijesa’s counsel, Kayode Olabiran, made a fresh application for his client’s bail.
The counsel spoke on the reason for the initial bail condition not being met, saying that prospective senior civil servants were scared of their entitlement benefits being jeopardised because of the interest of the state government in the case.
He also decried a situation whereby the defendant had been demonized and castigated, as well as almost convicted in the court of social media.
It will be recalled that the accused was initially granted bail on May 17 in a special court session arranged during the strike by the Judiciary Workers Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
He had been directed to produce two sureties, one being his relation and the other a level 16 officer of the Lagos State Civil Service, with a bail bond in the sum of N500,000.
However, he was unable to perfect the conditions, especially getting a level 16 officer to stand as a surety for him.
The matter has been adjourned till July 13.
