Court Rejects Baba Ijesha Post Conviction Bail Pending Appeal

An Ikeja Special Offences Court has refused the bail application filed by the convicted Nollywood actor, James Olarewaju, alias, Baba Ijesha pending the determination of his appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo who presided over the matter, rejected the bail application on the ground that he did not meet exceptional circumstances and criteria to warrant the bail.

The judge noted that the applicant must show special and exceptional circumstances because the term given to him is 5 years which is to run concurrently.

Also the judge said that there is no evidence that the appeal has been entered and there is no indication before this court that the court will not treat the case expeditiously.

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The embattled actor is   seeking a bail for an appeal for the  five years conviction of sexually assaulting a 14-year- old girl.

Baba Ijesha’s counsel, Prince Gabriel Olabiran had on Aug.10 for informed the court of 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.

Olabiran 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.

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The state prosecutor, Mr Yusuf Sule, however, in a counter affidavit dated Aug.18, argued that the defence failed in its address to establish the special circumstances which might grant the convict bail.

The court had on July 14 sentenced the embattled actor to five-years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

The court held that the prosecution had successfully proven the charge of sexual assault of a minor and indecent treatment of a minor against the convict.

The judge, however, discharged and acquitted him of count one and six which were sexual assault by penetration which  took place in  2014 and attempted sexual assault by penetration, which took place in 2021.