Baba Ijesha pleads not guilty, granted N2m bail

The Special Offence Courts unit of the Lagos state high court has granted Baba Ijesha, the embattled Nigerian actor, bail in the sum of two million naira, after pleading not guilty to charges of child molestation.

Baba Ijesha is being arraigned before the Lagos State Special Offence and Domestic Violence Court over sexual assault charges. Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on the indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.

The offences contravene Sections 135, 259, 262, 263 and 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi, requested that the defendant be remanded by the court following the plea.

Meanwhile, the lead defence counsel, Mr. Dada Awosika (SAN), in a bail application supported by a 29-paragraph affidavit, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail in liberal terms.

The bail application was brought pursuant to Section 105(2) and (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2015, and Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

In her ruling, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the judge, ordered that the actor be released on bail while the trial continues.

Taiwo said the defendant must bring the amount alongside two sureties – one of which must be a legal practitioner and the second a family relation.

The judge, however, said that the actor must perfect the bail terms and conditions within the next seven days.

She said the trial would begin on July 26 through 27 and 28 respectively.

The development comes days after a magistrate court quashed his bail application on the ground that the matter was already beyond its jurisdiction.