Court Fixes Date For Ruling In Baba Ijesha’s Bail Application

An Ikeja special offences court on Wednesday fixed Sept. 19 to deliver ruling in the bail application filed the convicted Nollywood actor, James Olanrewaju, alias, Baba Ijesha.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the embattled actor is seeking a bail for an appeal for the five years conviction of s3xvally a%s@ulting a 14-year- old girl.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned for ruling following the argument of the counsel on whether the convict had met special circumstances for court to grant him bail.

The defence counsel, Mr Chukwudi Adiukwu, informed the court that a notice for bail pending appeal has been submitted in pursuant to Section 6 (6) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 51 of the High Court law of Lagos State, administration of criminal justice law.

Adiukwu argued that the application admitted the applicant to bail, either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions.

He said the application was brought before the court due to difficulty in getting a date at the Court of Appeal.

“My lord, this application is before this court because getting a date at the court of appeal might be difficult, considering the number of cases before them.

“We also take into cognizance the prison month calendar, the convict would have served his five years concurrent jail term within three years and six months, before the hearing might take place at the appeal court.

“In addition my lord, the convict was of good conduct before the court during his trial and he was never absent till the judgment.

“We urge the court to consider the special circumstances at granting bail to the conv@ct,” he said.

The State Prosecution Counsel, Mrs Omowunmi Bajulaye-Bishi, however, argued that the defence failed in its address to establish the special circumstances which might grant the conv!ct bail.

“My lord, the defence has failed woefully in addressing the special circumstances which can be used to grant the conv!ct bail.

“We humbly urge the court to to refuse the bail application of the co#vict,”

Bajulaye-Bishi said.

NAN reports that the court had on July 14 sentenced the emb@ttled actor to five-years impr!s0nm3nt for s3xvally as#aulting a 14-year-old girl.

The court held that the prosecution had successfully proven the charge of s3xval ass&ult of a minor and indecent treatment of a minor against the c@nv!ct.

The judge, however, discharged and acqv!tted him of count one and six which were s3xval a%sault by pen3tration (which took place in 2014) and attempted s3xval as$ault by penetration, which took place in 2021). (NAN) www.nannews.ng