Alleged Sexual Assault: Baba Ijesha Will be Remanded Pending Resumption of Judicial Workers — Odumosu

Following the continued detention of Yoruba film actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu, has said the actor will not be released except the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria calls off its nationwide strike.

Baba Ijesha was arrested last month for the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl who has been unveiled as the foster daughter of veteran comedienne, Princess.

According to Odumosu, the continuous remand of the suspect is based on legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in the state Ministry of Justice who has established a prima facie case against the actor.

Odumosu’s comments came in reaction to the protest staged by Baba Ijesha’s colleagues led by Yomi Fabiyi at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, to demand the actor’s release.

Fabiyi said he was not in support of the allegations levelled against the actor, however, noted he was pushing for the fundamental human rights of the suspect.

He stressed that he was against the re-traumatising of the victim in a bid to gather CCTV evidence.

Reacting to the protest, Odumosu said:

“When they got the SCIID today (Wednesday), they were advised by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the SCIID, and he told them that we have done our work and sought legal advice from the Ministry of Justice and the advice was that we should still keep him in our custody.

“When we concluded our investigation, we forwarded our report to the ministry for legal advice. The ministry advised us through the Office of the Public Defender. The legal advice was that there was a prima facie case established against him and some sections of the law were quoted in the advice. So, the advice was that he should still remain in our custody and to be charged for that.”

The Commissioner, however, said the ministry might review its position concerning Baba Ijesha if the strike becomes prolonged.