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The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has deferred decision on Nollywood actor Baba Ijesha's appeal against his conviction by a Lagos State High Court.
After being convicted of sexual assault against a minor and sentenced to sixteen years in jail, Baba Ijesha petitioned the appellate court to overturn the lower court's decision.
His notice of appeal that was submitted was stamped CA/LAG/CR/544/23.
However, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Folasade Ojo, heard his appeal and delayed the decision until a later date to be notified.
During the appeal, Baba Ijesha's lawyer, Kayode Olabiran argued that the prosecution could not prove the age of the victim he assaulted.
He also argued that the actor was set up. Olabiran said, “The charge itself is centered on the defilement of a minor but the prosecution couldn’t prove the age of the victim.
The appellant was set up. The appellant is an actor, he acted in a script that he was invited to act by his colleague (PW1), Damilola Adekoya. Damilola Adekoya asked the appellant to come and act a script. It is in the statement of PW1 at Panti Police Station, unknowingly to the appellant there was a CCTV in the sitting room."
“Whatever we watched in that movie was a script by the producer and the video of the scene of the acting was tendered by the prosecution.
Based on his confessional statement as at the day of the arrest, he was under duress and there were so many people who were beating him that was when he confessed to the offence," he added.
Recall that Baba Ijesha was detained on April 22, 2021, after the Lagos State Police Command announced his arrest for allegedly sexually assault of a 14-year-old girl in the care of Nollywood actress Princess.
