The ongoing alleged rape case involving Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha and a 14-year-old girl has taken a new turn.
Through a senior officer, the Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that a directive has been issued to release him from police custody within the next 24 hours.
According to PUNCH, this is due to the ongoing strike by members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, which has made it impossible for the courts to sit, and the suspect could not be detained indefinitely without trial.
The source added an investigation into the recent allegation against Omiyinka revealed that he did not defile the victim, and the victim also confirmed it when questioned.
Irrespective of granting Baba Ijesha bail, an ongoing investigation would continue, as the command had also sought legal opinion from the state Ministry of Justice, the source added.
The senior police officer stated, “There was no case of defilement, people are just talking out of sentiment. They are not talking from the point of law. We interviewed all parties involved in the case for three hours today (Wednesday).
“The mother complained that her child was at the age of seven when she was defiled and the child pointed at Baba Ijesha. But the case was not reported until she was 14 years and under the law, the case has become statute-barred.“
“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.”
