An officer of the Nigerian Police Force, SP Wahab Kareem, on Friday told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that embattled Nollywood actor Olarenwaju Omiyinka popularly known as Baba Ijesha is facing another allegation of child defilement.
The police personnel attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos, stated that another young lady has come forward, claiming that the actor defiled her when she was 12 years old.
Kareem, attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos, testified as the fifth prosecution witness in Baba Ijesha’s trial for the defilement of a minor, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Led in evidence by the state counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, the police officer said, “During our investigation, another girl (name withheld) came forward and said the defendant assaulted her when she was 12 years old. We interviewed her and the defendant behind the counter, and he vehemently denied the allegation.
“The girl said the incident occurred at Agah area of Ikorodu, and we told a representative of the defendant to follow us to the house, we met the landlord. However, the landlord showed us an apartment and said, `This is where Baba Ijesha used to stay’. Meanwhile, the defendant had denied living in that area.”
Following the testimony, the statement of James’ former landlord, Alhaji Jameel, and his statement at the SCID was admitted into evidence.
During proceedings, a video recording of James at the SCID admitting to sexually assaulting the foster daughter comedienne Damilola Adekoya alias Princess was played.
“I harassed her, I touched her hand and I licked her hand,” the defendant said in the clip.
Earlier, Kareem testified that he was asked to take over the investigation of the case from a team due to complaints from Adekoya.
“I was asked to take over the matter from Team A because the complainant (Princess) had complained about the closeness between the defendant and members of Team A. After the conclusion of the investigation, I transferred the file to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice,” he said.
While being cross-examined by Mr Babatunde Ogala (SAN), Kareem said that he never visited the crime scene, adding that the other minor who also accused the defendant of defilement was brought to the police by Adekoya.
