Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Baba Ijesha disowns lawyer

Though the actor had fulfilled all the bail conditions, he had yet to be formally released by the judiciary.

• May 22, 2021
Baba Ijesha
Olanrewaju James (alias Baba Ijesha)

Incarcerated Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James (alias Baba Ijesha), has said that Adeshina Ogunlana, a former Chairman of Ikeja Branch of  Nigerian Bar Association, is not his counsel.

In a copy of  disclaimer made available on Saturday in Lagos, Baba Ijesha said that he never briefed Mr Ogunlana to be his legal representative.

“I wish to state categorically and emphatically that I have never briefed the lawyer nor instructed him to act on my behalf in any way, or manner howsoever and whatsoever.

“He (Ogunlana) is not my lawyer, and whatever you heard or hear from him concerning my lawyers, the police or court case, does not represent the true position.

“He has been acting without my knowledge or consent,” he said.

The actor is being detained by the police for alleged sexual assault and defilement of the  14-year-old foster daughter of comedienne, Princess.

He was granted bail by a magistrate on Monday in spite of a strike by judiciary workers.

Baba Ijesha said in the disclaimer that the police never  demanded money from him for the bail, which was granted him by a magistrate on health grounds.

“This is aside from the N500,000 refundable bail bond which formed part of my bail conditions  ordered by the court.

“The bail bond is payable to the court registry’s account and not the police account,” he said.

Kayode Olabiran, counsel to Baba Ijesha noted that the actor was granted bail on May 17, by a team from Lagos State Judiciary, Nigerian Bar Association and the state Ministry of Justice.

The team had visited the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Yaba, Lagos, in an effort  to decongest police stations across Lagos State.

Mr Olabiran said that though the actor had fulfilled all the bail conditions, he had yet to be formally released by the judiciary.

“He is not out of police custody, we are hoping that the judiciary, the team from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution  will come again to Panti next week.

“It is one thing to be granted bail and  another for your release to be ordered upon meeting all the conditions.

“That is the point we are at now. We are waiting for them (the judiciary) to come so we will present all the documents and his release will be ordered,” he said. 

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