A 14-year-old minor, who was allegedly defiled by Nollywood
actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, testified in camera
against him on Tuesday before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
Baba Ijesha is facing a six-count charge of alleged
defilement of a minor.
The minor is the foster daughter of an actress and comedienne,
Ms Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess.
After the conclusion of the cross-examination of Princess by
the Defence Counsel, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, the Director of Public Prosecution
(DPP) in Lagos informed the court that the state would be presenting the minor
as its second witness.
The DPP said that she would be invoking the provisions of
Child’s Rights Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) which
protect the identity of minors in defilement cases.
Adeyemi said that she would be requesting that members of
the press and public leave the courtroom during the victim’s testimony.
Obliging the DPP’s request, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo ordered
members of the public and press out of the courtroom to protect the minor’s
identity, leaving only lawyers and court registrars.
For more than one hour, the minor gave her testimony and was
cross-examined by the defence.
The case was adjourned till Aug. 11 and 12 for continuation
of trial.
The prosecution said that the defendant committed the
offences in 2013, 2014 and on April 19 at Iwaya, Yaba area of Lagos.
“Sometime between 2013 and 2014, the defendant sexually
abused the complainant (name withheld), then aged seven, by inserting his car
keys into her vagina.
“He also placed her on his laps, touched her in a sexual
manner and rubbed his p3nis on her body.
“On April 19, he indecently treated and se..xually assaulted
the complainant, now 14 years old, by sucking her fingers and touching her in a
s.e.xual manner.
“He also attempted to have sexual intercourse with the
complainant by unbuckling his belt and unzipping his trousers after sexually
assaulting her,” the DPP told the court.
The offences contravene Sections 135, 259, 262, 263 and 262
of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
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