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| Image: Daily Post |
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has upheld the 5-year jail term of actor Baba Ijesha. This decision comes after Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd.) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court sentenced the actor on July 12, 2022, to five years imprisonment for the sexual assault of a minor.
Baba Ijesha, dissatisfied with the judgment, appealed the decision through his counsel, Kayode Olabiran. Delivering judgment on the appeal, Justice Folashade Ojo on Thursday, June 27, 2024, addressed the various aspects of the case.
Justice Ojo set aside the appellant’s conviction for the indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault of a minor that allegedly occurred between 2013-2014, describing the testimony of PW1 (Damilola Adekoya) as hearsay. However, Justice Ojo found Adekoya’s eyewitness account of the April 19, 2021, incident credible, emphasizing that Baba Ijesha had confessed to the crime in police statements.
The appellate court affirmed Baba Ijesha’s imprisonment for the indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault stemming from the April 2021 incident, concluding that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court's order was clear:
“I affirm the conviction and sentence of the appellant to 5 years imprisonment for the offence of indecent treatment of a child contrary to section 135 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015 (count 4 of the charge).”
“I also affirm the appellant’s conviction to 3 years imprisonment for sexual assault contrary to section 263 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011 (count 5 of the information).”
The sentences for counts 4 and 5 are to run concurrently, ensuring that Baba Ijesha serves the full term of his sentence as determined by the court.
This ruling reaffirms the initial judgment and underscores the seriousness with which the judicial system treats cases of sexual assault and the indecent treatment of minors.
Source: Daily Post
#Sexual Assault
#Baba Ijesha
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