Updated: Court denies Baba Ijesha bail as sexual assault trial begins

A magistrate court sitting in Lagos has denied Nigerian actor, Baba Ijesha, bail in the ongoing trial of alleged sexual assault.

The actor was arrested and detained by the state police after he was alleged to have sexually molested a minor at seven and 14.
He was later granted bail on May 17 — after spending about 25 days in police detention — by magistrates in charge of prison decongestion. But he has remained in police custody despite the bail.
During his trial on Wednesday, Kayode Olabiran, counsel to Baba Ijesha, prayed the court to release his client, citing his deteriorating health.

He said the controversial nature of the case had made it difficult to secure his release despite his bail as intending sureties were scared of the likely consequences.
But in his ruling, the judge, P. E Nwaka, held that the court could not grant the actor bail because the matter was beyond its jurisdiction.
The judge also explained that the case has already been filed before the high court.

The superintendent of police in charge of the case, Yetunde Cardoso, said the matter was now beyond the police.
“Mr Olanrewaju was actually granted bail during the JUSUN strike and based on the conditions given, he couldn’t meet them and he was properly charged today (Wednesday),” she said.
“Just like the court stated, the case has already been filed before the high court and the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) of Lagos State Ministry of Justice has taken over the matter from the police.
“So presently, we have handed over to the DPP so the case is before them (DPP). It has nothing to do with the police anymore, it’s now left for the DPP to handle it.”

Baba Ijesha was brought to court in company with his colleague, Yomi Fabiyi, and other supporters for the sexual assault case against him.
One of his counsels, Adesina Ogunlana, had said the actor was granted bail by a magistrate but alleged that officials of the Lagos Police Command demanded a N500,000 bribe to get the actor released despite the court order.
The industrial action by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria had stalled the case before now.
Fabiyi, speaking with reporters, said, “I am in court because I believe in the rule of law and I have right to come to the court and observe the case.
“I want to see how the court (hearing) will go because there are so many lacunas, so many things that should have been done. I want to see how the rule of law and justice is being served.”