Embattled Baba Ijesha set for release in defilement case as courts remain locked

Embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, better known as Baba Ijesha is set to be released from police custody due to the ongoing strike by members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) which has made it impossible for the courts to sit.

Ripples Nigeria gathered that a senior police officer in Lagos State revealed that a directive has been issued to release him within the next 24 hours as the suspect could not be detained indefinitely without trial.

According to reports, the source:

“There was no case of defilement, people are just talking out of sentiment. They are not talking from the point of law. We interviewed all parties involved in the case for three hours on Wednesday, April 28.

“The mother complained that her child was at the age of seven when she was defiled and the child pointed at Baba Ijesha. But the case was not reported until she was 14 years and under the law, the case has become statute-barred.

READ ALSO: As Baba Ijesha arrested for defiling minor, Comedienne, Princess, says there may be other victims

“Regarding this new case, the CCTV footage has been assessed and nowhere was it captured that Baba Ijesha defiled her. The footage only showed him touching the victim’s body but it never showed him having any sexual intercourse with the girl.

“The girl also confirmed the same thing. So, in law, it is a case of indecent assault and not sexual harassment, and it is open to bail. So, can we continue to keep him when the offence is subject to bail and when there is no court sitting?

“That is against his fundamental human rights and the police do not work on sentiments. Directives have been given out for his release on bail.”

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