Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja High court has adjourned till January 26, 2022 to entertain the no-case submission to be filed by Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James aka Baba Ijesha, facing trial of alleged defilement of a minor.
This was coming as the trial judge overruled the application asking the court not to admit in evidence the confessional statement made to the police by the embattled Nollywood actor.
Justice Taiwo held there was no evidence before the court to prove the actor was tortured into giving the statement to the police.
The court therefore admitted in evidence the confessional statement of the Nollywood actor.
The judge noted that claims that a police officer, Inspector Abigail Omane, had promised to set him free if he owned up to the allegations were not corroborated and described the defendant’s application to the court as an afterthought.
She held: “Sitting on the floor does not vitiate the confessional statement. The statement is found to be relevant and admissible.”
The last prosecution witness, Inspector Abigail Omane, resumed her evidence, immediately after the court ruling.
The police officer told the court that after she had taken the evidence of the defendant, she had taken all the parties in the case to the office of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
“Thereafter the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti,” she said.
Under cross-examination by Kayode Olabiran, the witness, Insp. Omane explained why the Baba Ijesa’s shirt was torn when he was brought to the police station.
“The survivor told us that she was the one that beat him. There was no report of harassment of the complainant at the police station three-years ago.
“I’m not aware if the police were informed prior to the installation of the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the complainant’s house,” she said.
Subsequently, the prosecutor told the court that his team would be closing its case
Following the submission, the defence counsel, Mr Kayode Olabiran, announced to the court that the defence intends to file a no-case submission.
The judge, thereafter, adjourned till January 26, 2022 to entertain the no-case submission.
