Respite For Baba Ijesha, As Appeal Court Overturn Judgment On Sexual Assault

The Lagos division of the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Nollywood, James Olanrewaju, more commonly known as Baba Ijesha, challenging his conviction by a State High Court over the sexual assault of a minor.

The three-man panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Folasade Ojo reserved the appeal for judgment on Tuesday after listening to arguments of parties in the matter.

Other members of the panel are; Justice Abdullahi Bayero and Justice Paul Bassi.

In his notice of appeal, Baba Ijesha had asked the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.

On July 14, 2022, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd.) of the Lagos Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, sentenced Baba Ijesha to five years imprisonment over the sexual assault of a minor.

The judge convicted and sentenced him after he was found guilty of four out of the six counts, preferred against him by the Lagos State government.

The state through its Director of Public Prosecution Dr. Babajide Martins filed six counts bordering on indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration against the convict.

Justice Taiwo found Baba Ijesha guilty of indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault, of a minor between 2013 and 2014, which is contrary to Section 135 of Lagos State Criminal Law 2015 but exonerated him of the offence of sexual assault by penetration.