Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James Omiyinka popularly known as Baba Ijesha, who has been in police detention for an alleged sexual assault of a minor has been granted bail.
The actor has been in custody for over a month at the State CID, Panti, for the alleged assault involving a 14-year-old-girl who was later revealed to be the foster daughter of comedienne Princess.
Baba Ijesha was granted bail on health grounds as a result of magistrates going round police stations across Lagos State, listening to cases and giving hearing to those arrested because courts have been shut and cases adjourned due to the strike action embarked upon by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
His lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana, who did a Facebook live broadcast to break the news said: “I want to be one of the very first to break the good news to you that some few hours ago, our client that has been in detention for about 35 days has been granted bail from the facility of his detention on health grounds.
“The chief magistrate, in partnership with the ministry of justice, private organisations and police solicitors decongestion team under the decongestion scheme visited the Panti facility and intervened in his case. They saw him limping just like I had said last week when we went to see him.”
According to Ogunlana, the bail conditions is set at two sureties; a level 10 civil servant and a blood relation, while the bail bond is put at N500,000 in like sum.
“Baba Ijesha will not run away from justice. The condition will be met and his bail will be perfected. We will not accept any idea of foot dragging on this issue. By tomorrow, efforts will be made to make sure this is done.
“This not a victory for Baba Ijesha alone, it is for everybody. Rights and laws must be respected. The idea of mob lynching and lopsided actions when it comes to rights and privileges of fellow citizens should be decried” he said.
The lawyer, who appreciated the courage of chief magistrate Toyin Ogrey for stepping in and doing the right thing, also accused the police in the state for pandering to public opinion of some activists in the matter, who he said were advocating that his client should never be released.
He went further: “As far as we are concerned, both the police and Ministry of Justice are to be indicted for this unnecessary brutalisation and oppression of Baba Ijesha’s rights. If a person is entitled to something, you give him is entitlement.”
He added that the ball his now in the court of the Lagos State Police Command to do the right thing
