Lagos State Commissioner of Police(CP), Hakeem Odumosu has said the embattled Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka popularly Known as Baba Ijesha would not be released from detention until the judiciary workers under the aegis of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) suspend their nationwide strike.
While addressing a protest led by Nollywood actor Yomi Fabiyi in support of the release of Baba Ijesha who had been arrested for allegedly molesting a minor, the CP noted that he will be kept in custody till court resumes activities.
Fabiyi, had on Wednesday led a group of protesters to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at Panti Police Station, demanding the release of his fellow actor.
According to Fabiyi, the continued detention of Baba Ijesha is “illegal”.
During the protest, Fabiyi, accompanied by other protesters, marched from Casino Bus Stop to Panti Police Station.
While pressing home their demands, the protesters were seen carrying placards and banners with different inscriptions such as ‘Denial of bail for bailable offence is human rights violation’; ‘Nigeria police, please allow the law to dictate to you, not Iyabo Ojo, Princess and co’; ‘Release Baba Ijesa’; ‘Nigeria police must respect human rights and honour bail for bailable offence’, among others.
However, the CP in his address stated that Baba Ijesha is still been held in custody based on legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in the state Ministry of Justice.
According to Odumosu, a prima facie case had been established against him, adding that his release can only be reviewed after judiciary workers resume activities.
Recall that JUSUN had on April 6 embarked on a nationwide strike in protest of the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.
Baba Ijesha was arrested by the Lagos Police Command following the unearthing of a CCTV footage where he was seen allegedly sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.
The 14-year-old girl is a foster daughter of popular Comedienne, Damilola Adekoya, otherwise known as Princess.
Similarly, the State Government had given the state’s Police Command the nod to charge Baba Ijesha, to court over allegetions of sexually assualt.
The legal advice given by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions revealed that Baba Ijesha may be sentenced to life imprisonment in one of the five charges if found guilty in court.
