Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha may be facing life imprisonment as the Lagos State Government on Tuesday says it is set to file charges against him under the five criminal laws.
One of the charges include Indecent treatment of a child, which is punishable by seven years imprisonment, Defilement of a Child, which is punishable by life imprisonment,Sexual Assault by Penetration is also punishable by life imprisonment.
Baba Ijesha is also being charged for Attempted Sexual Assault by Penetration, punishable by 14 years imprisonment, and Sexual Assault, which is punishable by three years imprisonment
Baba Ijesa was recently caught on CCTV harassing a minor and in a viral video on social media, he was also seen confessing to the crime and pleading for forgiveness.
A statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo said on the 30th of April, 2021, the Police forwarded the case file of COP v Olanrewaju James to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advise.
He said after due consideration of the facts in the case file, the DPP issued legal advise on the 4th of May, 2021, which is to the effect that a prima facie case has been disclosed against Mr. Olanrewaju James and recommended he be charged under the provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Baba Ijesha will be charged under five criminal laws of Lagos, 2015, which are: Section 135, Indecent Treatment of a child- punishable by 7 years imprisonment; Section 137- Defilement of a Child, punishable by life imprisonment; Section 261- Sexual Assault by Penetration- punishable by life imprisonment; Section 262-Attempted Sexual Assault by Penetration, punishable by 14 years imprisonment and Section 263, Sexual Assault- punishable by 3 years imprisonment.
“Whilst the State would ensure that Mr. Olanrewaju James’s rights as enshrined in the Constitution are upheld, the Ministry of Justice would not relent in its efforts in ensuring that whoever sexually abuses any resident of Lagos State is speedily brought to book.
“It is instructive to note that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has been consistent in its efforts in protecting the vulnerable in our society and since the establishment of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team in 2014, it has till date prosecuted over 800 cases of Sexual and Domestic offenses,” Onigbanjo said.
The Attorney-General assured Lagosians and indeed Nigerians that in accordance with the DPP’s advise, charges would be filed accordingly.
