Report has emerged that Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha, who is in detention for allegedly raping an underage would be released from custody on Friday.
Baba Ijesha was arrested over allegation that he was defiling a 14-year-old right from the time she was aged 7. The said girl is a foster child of comedienne, Princess.
But the thespian would get temporary reprieve due to ongoing strike embarked upon by members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, culminating in courts not being able to sit, Punchng.com wrote, citing an unnamed senior police officer.
The paper reported that the same officer said the case was not rape but indecent assault, which is a bailable offence, explaining that the actor at no time penetrated his victim.
It quoted the source as saying, “Regarding this new case, the CCTV footage has been assessed and nowhere was it captured that Baba Ijesha defiled her. The footage only showed him touching the victim’s body but it never showed him having any sexual intercourse with the girl. The girl also confirmed the same thing.
“So, in law, it is a case of indecent assault and not sexual harassment, and it is open to bail. So, can we continue to keep him when the offence is subject to bail and when there is no court sitting? That is against his fundamental human rights and the police do not work on sentiments. Directives have been given out for his release on bail.”
