Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, also known as Baba Ijesha, is facing a new case of child defilement.
An officer of the Nigerian Police Force, SP Wahab Kareem, made the disclosure to the Ikeja Special Offences Court on Friday.
The police personnel attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, Lagos, stated that another young lady has come forward, claiming that the actor defiled her when she was 12 years old.
Kareem testified as a fifth prosecution witness in the trial.
The state counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, with evidence, revealed that the new lady whose name was withheld claimed that Baba Ijesha assaulted her when she was 12 years old.
It was reported to have occurred in Ikorodu where Baba Ijesha used to live.
The Police officer said, “During our investigation, another girl (name withheld) came forward and said the defendant assaulted her when she was 12 years old.
“We interviewed her and the defendant behind the counter, and he vehemently denied the allegation.
“The girl said the incident occurred at Agah area of Ikorodu, and we told a representative of the defendant to follow us to the house where we met the landlord.
“However, the landlord showed us an apartment and said, `This is where Baba Ijesha used to stay’. Meanwhile, the defendant had denied living in that area.”
Evidence submitted are the statement of James’ former landlord, Alhaji Jameel, and statement at the SCID.
A video recording of James at the SCID admitting to sexually assaulting the foster daughter comedienne, Damilola Adekoya alias Princess, was played during the court proceedings.
The defendant said, “I harassed her, I touched her hand and I licked her hand.”
While being cross-examined by Mr Babatunde Ogala (SAN), Kareem said that he was never at the crime scene and the new minor who accused the defendant of defilement was brought to the station by Adekoya i.e Comediene Princess.
He also revealed that there was no lawyer present when Baba Ijesha made the initial statement at the SCID.
He said the landlord’s statement was collected at his residence. Nonetheless, the statement was taken to his superior, CSP Margaret Ighodalo, according to what he told the court.
Kareem said, “The defendant was the one who asked his brother to take us to Ikorodu. We did not take him there because of security reasons; his name was all over the news on televisions and radio stations.
“He could have been hijacked from us; that is why we told him to nominate someone and he nominated his brother to go with us.”
Baba Ijesha faces a six-count charge bordering on the indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.
The offences contravene Sections 135, 259, 262, 263 and 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until November 12, 2021, for the continuation of trial.
