14-Yr-Old Foster Daughter Of Princess Testifies Against Baba Ijesha

A 14-year-old girl (name withheld), who was allegedly defiled by
a Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba
Ijesha, on Tuesday, testified against him before an Ikeja Special
Offences Court.

The girl is the foster daughter of an actress and comedienne, Ms
Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess.

After the conclusion of the cross-examination of Princess by the
defence counsel, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, the Director of Public
Prosecution (DPP) in Lagos State, informed the court that the state
would be presenting the minor as its second witness.

The DPP said that she would be invoking the provisions of the
Child’s Rights Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law
(ACJL) which protect the identity of minors in defilement
cases.

Adeyemi said that she would be requesting that members of the
press and public leave the courtroom during the victim’s
testimony.

Obliging the DPP’s request, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo ordered
members of the public and press out of the courtroom to protect the
minor’s identity, leaving only lawyers and court registrars.

NAN reports that for more than one hour, the minor gave her
testimony and was cross-examined by the defence.

The case was adjourned till August 11 and 12 for the
continuation of trial.

The prosecution said that the defendant committed the offences
in 2013, 2014 and on April 19 at Iwaya, Yaba area of Lagos.

“Sometime between 2013 and 2014, the defendant sexually abused
the complainant (name withheld), then aged seven, by inserting his
car keys into her vagina.

“He also placed her on his lap, touched her in a sexual manner
and rubbed his penis on her body.

“On April 19, he indecently treated and sexually assaulted the
complainant, now 14 years old, by sucking her fingers and touching
her in a sexual manner.

“He also attempted to have sexual intercourse with the
complainant by unbuckling his belt and unzipping his trousers after
sexually assaulting her,” the DPP told the court.

A 14-year-old girl (name withheld), who was allegedly defiled by
a Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba
Ijesha, on Tuesday, testified against him before an Ikeja Special
Offences Court.

The girl is the foster daughter of an actress and comedienne, Ms
Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess.

After the conclusion of the cross-examination of Princess by the
defence counsel, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, the Director of Public
Prosecution (DPP) in Lagos State, informed the court that the state
would be presenting the minor as its second witness.

The DPP said that she would be invoking the provisions of the
Child’s Rights Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law
(ACJL) which protect the identity of minors in defilement
cases.

Adeyemi said that she would be requesting that members of the
press and public leave the courtroom during the victim’s
testimony.

Obliging the DPP’s request, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo ordered
members of the public and press out of the courtroom to protect the
minor’s identity, leaving only lawyers and court registrars.

NAN reports that for more than one hour, the minor gave her
testimony and was cross-examined by the defence.

The case was adjourned till August 11 and 12 for the
continuation of trial.

The prosecution said that the defendant committed the offences
in 2013, 2014 and on April 19 at Iwaya, Yaba area of Lagos.

“Sometime between 2013 and 2014, the defendant sexually abused
the complainant (name withheld), then aged seven, by inserting his
car keys into her vagina.

“He also placed her on his lap, touched her in a sexual manner
and rubbed his penis on her body.

“On April 19, he indecently treated and sexually assaulted the
complainant, now 14 years old, by sucking her fingers and touching
her in a sexual manner.

“He also attempted to have sexual intercourse with the
complainant by unbuckling his belt and unzipping his trousers after
sexually assaulting her,” the DPP told the court.