Nollywood actor and comedian Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha, was given a 16-year prison term for sexual assault by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offenses Court.
On Thursday, Justice Taiwo issued the ruling and added that the jail sentence would be served concurrently.
Baba Ijesha was found guilty of sexually assaulting Damilola Adekoya’s 14-year-old daughter, who went by the stage name Princess and was an actress and comedienne colleague of his.
Recalled that in April 2021, Nigerian Police agents detained Baba Ijesha for having sex with the victim since she was seven years old.
Princess at Sabo Police Station reported him to the authorities on April 19, 2021. For a proper investigation, he was then transferred to the Gender Unit of the State CID, Panti, Yaba Lagos.
A CCTV camera at the complainant’s home also managed to record the suspect after he confessed to the crime.
A few days later, Baba Ijesha was charged with child defilement on six counts, including claims of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, sexual assault by penetration, and indecent treatment of a child.
It was decided in subsequent court procedures that the CCTV recordings of Baba Ijesha might have been tampered with.
