By Patience Ogbo
Purported efforts from any quarter to release Olarenwaju James popularly known as Baba Ijesha Nollywood actor and comedian to be released from police custody will be resisted as child rights advocates and civil rights groups are set to stage protests in Lagos State if the embattled actor is not prosecuted for allegedly defiling a 14 year old girl in a space of seven years.
The police in Lagos arrested and detained James popularly known as Baba Ijesha for allegedly defiling the 14 year old girl since she was 7 years old. The girl said to be the foster daughter of Nollywood actor and comedian Princess Adekoya was exhibiting signs occasioned with an abused child, she was failing in school woefully, depressed and sad which promoted Princess Adekoya to probe and the cat was let out of the bag when she confessed that Baba Ijesha who is a family friend to Princess had sex with her and also used his car key to insert in her virginal.
Following her confession, Baba Ijesha was set up in Princess’s house where he was said to have been captured in a CCTV allegedly romancing and defiling the girl police spokesperson CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said. Following his arrest, there been efforts to put the blame on Princess Adekoya and ensure Baba Ijesha is released allegedly by his friends, and colleagues in the movie industry . Sections of the media have taken to write-ups to rubbish the efforts of the police at the Gender Unit SCID Panti led by CSP Margaret Ighodalo and her team investigating the case.
It was gathered that the Commissioner of Police CP Hakeem Odumosu met with the parties involved in the case in his office where it was gathered that the police would allegedly release Baba Ijesha due to the ongoing Judiciary Workers strike while some reports have it that the case of defilement cannot be established.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Lagos CP had said “the case was bailable. What happened in the CCTV is indecent assault. The alleged defilement on the girl seven years ago was not reported so we need scientific investigation for that. The offence is bailable but he is still in our custody ” .
Following this , civil rights groups and child rights advocates plan to protest if Baba Ijesha is not prosecuted for defilement.
The coordinator of the child right groups under the auspices of Advocates For Children and Vulnerable Persons Network ACVPN Mr. Ebenezer Omejalile said ” Right activists plan to protest today ( Friday) if the police released Baba Ijesha and not prosecuted. I have to stand them down if not the protest would have began but we felt we need to see how the CP Hakeem Odumosu will handle the matter since he called the parties to his office. There are pressure on him to release Baba Ijesha but our stand is that he must be prosecuted. We ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE PERSONS NETWORK ACVPN totally contemn this arm twisting of existing Laws that clearly states categories of punishment accrued to various Offences.Lagos state Ministry Justice in last few weeks through it Social Medial Handle published. punishment for various Offences such as Armed Robbery/ Cultisms, attracts between 15,21 years jail term respectively with no option of fine or probation now those individuals who often boast and wreck havoc, with so much IMPUNITY would think twice before they misbehave.DEFILEMENT/Rape now attracts life in imprisonment in Nigeria , some cases have gotten such sentences across Nigeria.
” Defilement in Lagos a State regarded as the Centre of Excellence should raise it Operations beyond reasonable doubt.Been a Celebrity does not make one above the law, we watched keenly at way Investigation of Baba Ijesha case presently handled by the Gender/Anti-Human Trafficking SCID PANTI and I must confess we need raise our hat for their performance devoid from any of sentiments.
Roberts Kelly popularly known as R.Kelly the famous American musician tagged as SURVIVING R. KELLY is currently serving his time in the American correctional CENTER for his Pedophile offence , American Government didn’t protect him because he was famous despite his contribution to the American Entertainment industry.
Baba confessed to the crime and a proven medical evidence is available to back up it’s really a Show of shame some Nollyhood Actors are still in a state of denial and showed solidarity with Baba Ijesha .
Our take on this case we call on the Commissioner of Police Cp Hakeem Odumosu to maintain a high level of integrity and discharge of his lawful duty in abeyance to the existing Laws , Child Rights Acts 2007, The Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Act (VAPP 2015) The Lagos State Child Rights Law CRL 2007.
It should be noted that Survivors of such crimes can only be of sound mind when justice is duly served Baba Ijesha should face the consequences of his actions because injury to one is Injury to all. Princess should not be blamed for any reason because Pedophile is not written in any body face.
The CP Lagos is Lucky to have radical investigators as Gender Unit head both State Command and SCID PANTI they they should be encouraged and not discouraged by power that be.
We categorically state clearly if Baba Ijesha is released tomorrow as Permutated by a section of the Media it would mean all that we have been doing on Gender Based Violence , Amount to nothing and a waste of resources.
The UN Women and Girls Initiative Spotlight Initiative is a waste resources if justice is not served on this case, Also it would take us 20 years backward of ground Zero as the International Priority action on End Violence Against Children that Nigeria adopted 2016 amount to nothing.
To those who are calling and working tireless with so much propaganda to frustrate this case , your efforts cannot withstand the unjust because our part is like a shining Star .
We call on all State Actors and Non State Actors to SAY NO TO ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN.
Great Laws don’t bring Great Men but Great Men Bring Great Laws courtesy Aristotle the great Philosopher.
This is Our Stand on the case of Baba Ijesha and other
cases in the Custody of Lagos State Police Command”.
Also a activist Chidera Ochagwu said On Baba Ijesha’s case.Reports reaching me from trusted sources says that some actors are working tirelessly, trying to use money, plus back up in high places to change the facts, trying hard to bring up another narrative and trying to make people believe and say that Baba Ijesha is impotent.
With the back up of high ranked individuals, they are working to make sure the case is swept under the carpet.
We know that Gender Focal person is justice driven. We also know that the IG won’t meddle with things like this.
I am using this medium to call on everyone, all concerned individuals and organizations to put pressure on this case .Justice must be served right. We won’t watch and we cannot afford to watch this monster be let loose”.
Also Yoruba actress Iyabo Ojo is also seeking justice be served when in a live Instagram she confronted her colleague Yomi Fabiyi for his perceived support for Baba Ijesha.
Also, the AuntLanda Bethel Foundation condemned the defilement in an official Press Release as prepared by Dr Yolanda George-David of Auntlanda’s Bethel Foundation on behalf of Princess Damilola Adekoya (@PrincessComedian).
While we wait and trust that justice would prevail, it is important that we get the facts right.
Find below, the mother of the Survivors statement.
“Days ago, the news of popular Yoruba actor ,Olarenwaju James Omiyinka popularly known as Baba Ijesha, raping a young girl of 7 hit the internet and since then, there’s been chaos. It’s no longer news that I don’t have biological children of my own so imagine how sad I am that the girl in question (who I would like to keep her personal information private) is one of my 6 adopted children (3 boys, 3 girls) Their parents trusted me to train them properly and didn’t want me to feel alone. Now that the incident is public, it all feels surreal but very painful. I can’t believe someone I tried to help when I was at my lowest point in life could do this. Reading the false news that he raped her continuously for 7 years after the initial Sexual Defilement that took place 7 years ago is also adding to my mental health breakdown.
Truly he defiled her in my sitting room years ago when I went downstairs to lock the gate after my aunt who had come to console me on the collapse of my marriage and loss of baby (her other siblings had gone out to play at the end of the street). She said after cleaning certain liquid (we suspect was sperm and blood) from her Bum and his body, he warned her not to tell anyone and that it was nothing. In fact, he came the next day to make sure she had kept quiet. When he was leaving he asked her to follow him to the car to pick a nylon of fruits for everyone, that was when he used his car key to sexually assault her again. After those two occasions, he completely avoided coming to my place but called anytime he was in need.
Fast forward to when my friend came around on Friday, April 16, 2021. she found me in a foul mood and went on to ask what had happened. I explained to her the same gut feeling I had been having for 7 years that something was wrong with her but it was not spiritual won’t go away. She then offered to talk to her and that was when all the secrets came out.
On one hand, we are a bit relieved and her parents are especially grateful to God that we now know the root cause of declining grades & sudden change in behaviour. On the other hand, it’s so painful knowing that she had to bear all these by herself. Her innocence was stolen in less than 4 minutes. I truly can’t find the right words to describe how deeply hurt I am.
These parents showed compassion by allowing their kids live with me so I could experience motherhood. I protected and cared for them to the best of my ability but Lanre made me question my sanity as a mother.
I still can’t get over the trauma of having to watch her on CCTV just so we could get proof. She was so scared before he arrived and we had to reassure her that we would come in before he could hurt her. She dreads him so much to the point that when she recognized him in a movie he and I featured in 2019, even her brothers couldn’t console her.
We pray for justice and plead with the general public to respect our privacy as we are going through so much already. Thank you all for your continuous prayers and emotional support. May you never have to weep over your children. May God grant those of us looking for the fruit of the womb everlasting joy. I strongly believe God does not sleep.”
Princess Damilola Adekoya (Actor/Comedian)
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