Court refuses Baba Ijesha‘s bail application

An Ikeja special offences court on Wednesday refused the bail application filed by Baba Ijesha, the embattled actor.

According to NAN, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the presiding judge, rejected the bail application of the convicted actor on grounds that he did not meet exceptional circumstances and criteria to warrant the bail.

“The applicant must show special and exceptional circumstances because the term given to him is five years which is to run concurrently,” Taiwo held.

“There is no evidence that the appeal has been entered and there is no indication before this court that the court will not treat the case expeditiously.

“It is in the view of this court that the applicant has failed to show special circumstances to warrant him bail because he is facing a serious crime.

“In view of this case, I am inclined to refuse the bail application of the applicants pending appeal.”

Baba Ijesha is seeking bail for an appeal for the five years conviction after he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl.

Gabriel Olabiran, the actor’s counsel, had on August 10, informed the court of notice for bail.

Olabiran argued that the application admitted the applicant to bail, either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions.

He said the application was brought before the court due to difficulty in getting a date at the court of appeal.

Yusuf Sule, the state prosecutor, in a counter affidavit dated August 18, however, argued that the defence failed in its address to establish the special circumstances which might grant the convict bail.

On July 14, the court sentenced the embattled actor to five years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor.

The judge, however, discharged and acquitted him of count one and six which were sexual assault by penetration and attempted sexual assault by penetration.