An Ikeja Special Offences court has rejected the bail application filed by the convicted Nollywood actor, actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha.
It would be recalled that on July 14, the court convicted and sentenced Baba Ijesha to five years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
A month after that sentence, the actor through his counsel approached the court for post-conviction bail, pending the determination of his appeal at the Lagos division of the Court of Appeal.
During the hearing on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo rejected the bail application of the embattled 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.”
