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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted embattled Nollywood actor, Olarenwaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha, of sexual assault involving a minor.
The Yoruba actor has been in a protracted legal battle after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
On Thursday, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the judge presiding over the case, convicted Baba Ijesha of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault.
The judge, however, discharged and acquitted the actor of count one and count six, which were sexual assault by penetration and attempted sexual assault by penetration.
At the time of filing this report, the case has been stood down for a few minutes for the sentencing of the convict.
Baba Ijesha was arraigned on June 24, 2021. During the trial, six prosecution witnesses testified against him.
They include popular Comedienne, Princess; the 14-year-old minor; Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode; a child expert; Aniekan Makanjuola; a medical doctor; Wahab Kareem; the investigating police officer; and Abigail Omane, a policewoman.
Baba Ijesha is facing a six-count charge of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.
The charges were proffered against him by the Lagos state directorate of public prosecutions (DPP).
Details later….