•Fresh Facts Emerge
For the past few days, popular actor, Baba Ijesha whose real name is Olanrewaju Omiyinka has been in the eye of a storm. He has been accused of defiling a young girl. Throughout last week, this scandal rocked the social media and the movie industry was sharply divided over the grave allegations levelled against Baba Ijesha by Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess, the Commedienne. The allegation is that Baba Ijesha molested a 14-year old girl who is her foster daughter and Baba Ijesha was seen begging in the video uploaded on social media.
The Police was called in and he was promptly arrested and detained at Panti Police Station. Whilst many well known actresses like Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Aigbe and Co. rose in support of Princess, there were other industry people who counselled that Baba Ijesha be given chance to explain himself and be tried in court.
By mid week, the internet had become filled up with very many Actors & Actresses doing individual videos for and against the 2 groups. Whilst some supported Princess and Iyabo Ojo’s campaign against Baba Ijesha, some others felt the 2 of them were going too far. There is a another group that simply kept mum and took a Wait-And-See posture.
So, all through last week the internet was on fire, as many actors & actresses took a definitive a stand. You were either for Princess or Baba Ijesha. There were those who supported Princess and castigated Baba Ijesha, for assaulting the 14 year old girl. There were those who, though don’t support the offence allegedly committed by Baba Ijesha, but feel he should be given fair hearing. There are those who feel Baba Ijesha should be promptly charged to court and let the court rule on it and the case should not be tried Online or in the media.
The Lagos Police CP, Hakeem Odumosu spoke last week. He said the offence is Bailable.
As you read this, the Police has not released Baba Ijesha. Last Thursday, when the Lagos Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, spoke about the case and revealed that the Police has no case against Baba Ijesha and that the offence he is being accused of is Bailable, many thought the comic actor will be out by last Friday. But no. He has not been released. A source within the Police, revealed that Baba Ijesha is still in Police custody. And the Police has already sent his Case file to the DPP for Legal Advice. We hear he may be charged to court this week to face trial.
But the Baba Ijesha Rape Saga has thrown up so many questions begging for answers. In all of these, there are those who want to know the type of relationship that exists between Baba Ijesha & Princess. In the video, released by Iyabo Ojo, Princess revealed all she has done for Baba Ijesha in the recent past, like sending him to school and taking care of him.
Friends of Baba Ijesha are alleging that there seems to be more to their closeness which made Princess to accept take care of Baba Ijesha and spent on him, like she said. So close were they that she allowed him frequent her house. There are some industry people who have also alleged that the whole saga might just be a set up to nail Baba Ijesha and ruin his career & reputation for reasons not known to us.
It is also not clear about the identity of the mother of the girl.
Princess has come out that the victim is her foster child.
There are some actresses who have gone Online to tackle or oppose Iyabo Ojo who declared total war on Baba Ijesha for allegedly doing what he did. Iyabo in her videos has consistently said she is battling Baba Ijesha because what he did is despicable and that all well meaning people should join her to make sure Baba Ijesha is tried and sent to jail.
It was reported that a closed-circuit television installed in the victim’s home captured Baba Ijesha allegedly molesting the victim while her mother was not at home.
It was learnt that the victim’s foster mother, who had been suspecting that her daughter was being sexually abused, installed the CCTV to uncover the perpetrator.
She monitored the situation in her home on her phone and to her dismay, she saw Baba Ijesha allegedly conducting himself in a suspicious manner around her daughter.
According to the allegation, Baba Ijesha allegedly took the victim away from the sitting room into the kitchen, where there was no CCTV camera installed, and the mother, who rushed back home upon the discovery, allegedly caught Omiyinka defiling her daughter in the kitchen.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Thursday that Baba Ijesha was arrested after a case of defilement was reported against him, adding that preliminary investigation revealed that he had been sexually assaulting the 14-year-old victim since she was seven.
BABA IJESHA’S EARLIER CONFESSION
He stated that Baba Ijesha confessed to the crime, adding that the case had been transferred to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, for proper investigation.
Adejobi said, “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a popular Nollywood actor, Olarenwaju James (Omiyinka), a.k.a Baba Ijesha, 48, for defiling a minor
“The case of defilement was reported on April 19, 2021, by one Princess Adekola Adekanya at the Sabo Police Station and was transferred to the Gender Unit of the SCIID, Panti, Yaba, for proper investigation.
“Based on preliminary findings, the suspect started sexually assaulting the victim, 14, since she was seven-year-old. The suspect confessed to the crime and was also captured by a CCTV camera in the house of the victim’s mother.
“The State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered a proper investigation as he promised to do justice in the matter.”
DID BABA IJESHA ACTUALLY RAPE THE LITTLE GIRL?
A video in which Baba Ijesha, begged for forgiveness surfaced online and went viral.
The development has, however, sparked heated outrage over claims in some quarters that there should be evidence to substantiate the allegation.
The controversies were further heightened after it was revealed that the movie star could be released on Friday.
A police source had also claimed that the CCTV footage which led to his eventual arrest did not establish that the actor, real name Olarenwaju James, defiled the girl as alleged.
But on Thursday, Iyabo Ojo, a Nollywood actress, shared the now-viral video of his colleague admitting to the crime while pleading for forgiveness.
In the video, the actor is seen begging Comedian Princess, the foster mother of the minor, while she was interrogating him.
Baba Ijesha also admitted to molesting the girl when she was seven-year-old and that he repeated the action when she clocked 14.
“Please, I don’t really know what happened to me but I’m begging you. What’s is happening to me is more than being drunk… please forgive me. I’m sorry, I won’t do it again. I know I have done something wrong, please forgive me for God’s sake. You’ll not be put to shame. You (Comedian Princess) don’t deserve this kind of treatment because you’ve really tried for me. I’m very sorry,” he said.
Amid his pleas, Princess, however, insisted on knowing why he repeated the act about seven years after he molested the minor.
“I’m talking to you as a friend because I know you have issues…but why harass a girl at seven-year-old and then come back to harass her again at 14,” she queried.
“I want to forgive you but you are not giving me any cogent reason, you’re saying it’s the devil. That was seven years ago, but you repeated it again. Does it mean you have done that to other people’s children? If it’s not intentional why do that at seven and then come out again years later.”
But responding, Baba Ijesha said the act was beyond his comprehension. He blamed the incident on the “spiritual problem” confronting him at the time which he claimed Princess was aware of.
“I want you (Princess) to forgive me. What I did is very bad. I knew it’s really bad to have molested her. But I’m pleading with you for forgiveness,” he added.
“I don’t have any aim doing it. When you have a spiritual problem, it’s terrible. She (Comedian Princess) knows that I have a spiritual problem. The devil simply wanted to use this to destroy me. I have done something really wrong.”
WHAT PROMPTED PRINCESS TO SET UP CCTV
In a similar video from the popular Comedian, Princess, she revealed that her foster child is the 14-year-old girl allegedly defiled by Baba Ijesha.
Recall that Baba Ijesha was arrested after he confessed to molesting the teenager.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had disclosed that the actor started sexually assaulting the teenager when she was seven years old.
Princess in a video shared on her Instagram page disclosed that after the crash of her marriage, some parents allowed about six children in number, to live with her so she wouldn’t be lonely.
She was also helping Baba Ijesha while taking care of the children.
Princess alleged that it was during one of his visits to her house that he molested one of the three girls living with her.
She said the defilement had an adverse effect on the child as she began to decline academically and otherwise.
“After seven years, the girl told me and someone else what Baba Ijesha did to her after she saw him in a movie. I called him for a meeting in the house where I set up a CCTV camera where he was captured trying to molest the girl again.
“I left the house and told him to relax I’ll be back soon, immediately I left he searched my house to see if anyone was in aside the girl and later proceeded to defile her.
“I can’t even disclose the things he did while I was monitoring on my phone but immediately I saw her stand up to the kitchen where there was no camera I and the police entered the house and arrested him,” she narrated.
Princess, who broke down in tears, said she queried Baba Ijesha, demanding why he did such a thing to her and he confessed ‘It was the Devil’
The comedian further called out those who are accusing her of trying to “tarnish his image.”
She wondered why people will demand that the video of minor being molested be shared to the public.
Recall that Baba Ijesha was arrested after he confessed to molesting the teenager.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had disclosed that the actor started sexually assaulting the teenager when she was seven years old.
WHY IYABO OJO, PRINCESS & CO PROTESTED
Princess & Iyabo Ojo protested the rumour of the possible release of Baba Ijesha from Panti Police Station.
Rumours had filtered the air recently that the embattled actor, may be released on Friday following a directive April 29, 2021
The alleged plan to release popular Nollywood actor, Baba Ijesha after he was accused of sexually assaulting Comedienne Princess’ foster child, has led to fellow actress Iyabo Ojo and Princess protesting at the Panti Police Station in Lagos.
Sharing a video on her (Iyabo Ojo) Instalive, the actress said: “We are here at Panti, and he is still here. They are not bailing Baba Ijesha. We are here and we have sorted it out,” she said in her Instagram live.
WHAT BABA IJESHA TOLD YOMI FABIYI
Yoruba movie actor, Yomi Fabiyi revealed what Baba Ijesha told him when he visited the accused in police custody. Yomi in a video interview with GoldMyne TV said Baba Ijesha simply confessed to him that he inappropriately touched the girl. He noted that Baba Ijesha did not say anything further.
The actor said he told Baba Ijesha while in custody that if the evidence proved he is guilty, it means he (Baba Ijesha) has disappointed him. He revealed that Baba Ijesha responded, saying he should wait and see the video and that he (Baba Ijesha) did not have a lawyer. According to Yomi, Baba Ijesha said nobody also has visited him while in custody except the governor of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) in Lagos State. The Yoruba movie actor has been at the receiving end of serious bashing after demanding caution in the alleged child molestation case against Baba Ijesha.
IYABO OJO BATTLES YOMI FABIYI
Speaking via Instagram, Iyabo Ojo said: We all heard what happened to Baba Ijesha and the rape issue and since yesterday, I have been seeing a lot of people posting his pictures, with some saying he was framed and others saying we should wait…I just want to beg my colleagues, please in no way should we try to defend him,” she said.
“Because the reason a lot of girls and boys that are raped and molested do not come out to say their opinion most especially if they have been raped by a prominent person.” According to Ojo, she wondered why people also subject the molested persons to questions like ‘why did she do that?’ or ‘what did her parents do?’ Actor, Baba Ijesha arrested for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl starting from when she was 7 [Instagram/Baba Ijesha] The actress said there is no excuse for rape.
“There is no excuse for rape. There is no excuse for molestation. A pedophile is a pedophile. He doesn’t need any excuse to rape,” to watch added. Ojo, a rape victim herself, also advised her colleagues to stop asking for the CCTV footage where Baba Ijesha was caught molesting the little girl.
“Stop asking for the video because a child is involved, a 14-year-old child is involved. And if you are a father or mother I don’t think you want a video of your daughter being molested on the Internet.” Ojo’s video came a few days after movie star Tonto Dikeh had vowed to make life unbearable for Baba Ijesha over his alleged crime. Baba Ijesha was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old child.
WHY BABA IJESHA MAY BE RELEASED FROM CUSTODY SOON
According to a senior officer at the Lagos State Police Command, it was has confirmed that a directive had been given for the release of Baba Ijesha from custody as soon as possible.
The source said due to the ongoing strike by members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, courts had ceased from sitting and the suspect could not be detained indefinitely without trial.
The source, however, said an investigation into the recent allegation against Omiyinka revealed that he did not defile the victim, adding that when she was questioned, the victim confirmed the same.
The senior police officer stated, “There was no case of defilement, people are just talking out of sentiment. They are not talking from the point of law. We interviewed all parties involved in the case for three hours today (Wednesday).
“The mother complained that her child was at the age of seven when she was defiled and the child pointed at Baba Ijesha. But the case was not reported until she was 14 years and under the law, the case has become statute-barred.
“Regarding this new case, the CCTV footage has been assessed and nowhere was it captured that Baba Ijesha defiled her. The footage only showed him touching the victim’s body but it never showed him having any sexual intercourse with the girl. The girl also confirmed the same thing.
“So, in law, it is a case of indecent assault and not sexual harassment, and it is open to bail. So, can we continue to keep him when the offence is subject to bail and when there is no court sitting? That is against his fundamental human rights and the police do not work on sentiments. Directives have been given out for his release on bail.”
The source, however, said that despite granting Omiyinka bail, the investigation would continue, adding that the command had also sought legal opinion from the state Ministry of Justice.
The source added, “A test was recently done on the victim and it was discovered that she had penetration. Is it the penetration of seven years that is still evident now, and who penetrated her then? Is there any medical report linking the man (Omiyinka) to the crime?
“The CCTV footage never showed Baba Ijesha defiling her, but he confessed to touching her body indecently and apologised, and the girl confirmed the same.
“Investigation is still ongoing and we have instructed them to conduct a medical examination on the victim at a government recognised medical facility. We are not specialists in the field and we have also sought legal opinion from the Ministry of Justice.”
ACCORDING TO PUNCH
A closed-circuit television footage that was made available to Saturday PUNCH, revealed that Baba Ijesha kissed and fondled sensitive parts of the body of the 14-year-old girl in the care of popular comedienne, Adekola Adekanya, otherwise called Princess.
Not done, Omiyinka, while engaging in the act, was also seen licking the fingers on the left hand of the victim and caressing the minor’s legs and thighs with his left hand. In an apparent effort to sexually arouse the minor, Omiyinka was seen lifting the victim’s dress as he caressed the minor’s body. Punch corresponded who obtained the footage observed that the minor was dressed in a sleeveless gown as she sat on a sofa in Adekanya’s residence. Baba Ijesha wore a white shirt, a pair of blue jeans and a hat.
Shortly after Adekanya stepped out, Baba Ijesha, who also sat beside the victim on the same sofa, was seen using his hand to caress the victim’s left arm. Before Baba Ijesha started the act, the comedienne was seen leaving her apartment with three others, leaving Omiyinka and the victim in the parlour to see off the guests. After Adekanya left the apartment, Omiyinka was shown by the footage searching the rooms. Some minutes later, Baba Ijesha kissed the minor’s arm, hugged and caressed her body as they sat on the sofa. However, the victim, who was uncomfortable by Baba Ijesha’s advances, quickly disentangled herself from the actor’s grip. Baba Ijesha was again seen in the footage, standing with the victim in the parlour, hugging the minor and using his two hands to caress the victim’s buttocks.
The victim, however, disengaged herself from Baba Ijesha, who clung to her. Afterward, Baba Ijesha was seen using both hands to caress the minor’s head. The footage also showed him bending the victim to a corner on the sofa and kissing the minor. Again, the 14-year-old girl disengaged herself from Baba Ijesha’s grip. Punch correspondent observed that the sexual advances were instigated by the thespian. Also, background voices of people monitoring the situation in the parlour were heard in the footage. From the footage assessed, no part showed Baba Ijesha defiling the minor.
TAMPAN PRESIDENT, MR. LATIN’S VIEW
He said TAMPAN condemns what Baba Ijesha did in totality. He said TAMPAN does not support what Baba Ijesha did. “As the President of TAMPAN that is what I am supported to do. He expressed shock that people are accusing him (Latin) of not suspending Ijesha from TAMPAN or sending him away from the group. What many don’t know is that I don’t have the power to send Ijesha away from TAMPAN because Ijesha is not a member of TAMPAN. He is a colleague. He is an Entertainer. He is an actor. He is not a member of TAMPAN. There are so many groups. What TAMPAN can do is what we have done to condemn his act in totality. No right-thinking human being will support molestation.
No right-thinking human being will go and lobby that anybody who behaves like Baba Ijesha should be left to go home. Every father or mother or parent or relative says what he has done is wrong. Because he is not my member there is little I can do. If he was a member of TAMPAN we would have placed him on SUSPENSION till the case is investigated. Once he is convicted will be removed as a member of TAMPAN. And when he finishes serving he has to go and re-apply. We would then sit down and deliberate on whether he should be accepted. It is in our constitution that if you have a case and convicted you will be removed as a member forever… My name Bolaji Amusan. I condemn what he has done”.
WHAT TAMPAN SENT OUT
TAMPAN is Theatre Arts & Motion Picture Practitioners’ Association of Nigeria. The association, last week, sent out a release, condemning in its totality the allegation of rape and child molestation made against their colleague, Baba Ijesha. The release read: “We find it obligatory to condemn in totality the odious occurrence of pedophilia confessed to by Mr. Olanrewaju James aka Baba Ijesha as confirmed by the Police. Our association TAMPAN is crestfallen about this act and will reproach and remonstrate the committer of such exclusive sexual harassment to prepubescent children.
Considering the sensitivity of the case, which is still under investigation according to Lagos State Commissioner of Police, TAMPAN will never support all acts against what we preach and represent. As an association, we understand the Mores and Social Norm of our people and our behaviour will always be homiletic. Therefore, we would not fail to support the government in its bid to do justice towards ensuring that such ignoble acts are checked within our society.
We sympathise with the parents of the victim and also seize this opportunity to charge all parents to give their children or wards freedom to express themselves for a timely arrest of such horrible acts whenever such are committed.
Finally, we will always stand for actions that are morally standard and continue to be law-abiding.
Signed: Yemi Amodu
Director of Research & Documentation
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