Nollywood
actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha, has pleaded not guilty to the
offence of sexually assaulting a minor.
Baba Ijesha,
who wore a white hooded jacket and a mask and was chained to another criminal
suspect as he arrived before a Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court
sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos on Thursday.
He was
arraigned by the State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on a six-count
of attempted sexual assault, sexual assault of a minor, and indecent treatment
of a child.
He however
pleaded not guilty to all six counts.
The DPP, Mrs
Olayinka Adeyemi subsequently told trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, to
remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the commencement of
trial.
The defence
team led by two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Babatunde Ogala and Dada Awosika
however informed the court that the defence team had filed a bail application
and had served same on the prosecution.
Mr Ogala
specifically asked the court to grant them an audience to argue the bail
application. The DPP, Mrs Adeyemi swiftly opposed the request stating that her
team is yet to verify the medical reports which the defense intends to rely on
for his bail consideration.
In a short
ruling, Justice Taiwo granted the request of the defense team and asked parties
to argue the bail application.
– Bail
Hearing –
Lead counsel
to the defendant, Babatunde Ogala reminded the court that the issue of bail is
purely the right of the defendant as a citizen in line with Section 36 (5) of
the Constitution. He asked the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal
terms.
The DPP
countered the arguments by insisting that the granting of bail is purely at the
discretion of the court.
She asked the
court to consider the nature of the offence and refuse the request for bail.
Justice Taiwo
has stood the matter down to consider and write her ruling on the bail
application.
0 Comments