Popular actor Baba Ijesha’s date with destiny will begin on December 15, when the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja will rule on a major aspect of his case.
The ruling-within-ruling borders on whether he was forced to give his confessional statement, or he did so voluntarily.
Ijesha ran into trouble waters when comedienne Princess alleged that he defiled her foster daughter, saying he did so twice – when the girl was seven and 14.
The case has raised a lot of dust, with Baba Ijesha initially remanded.
It set many celebrities against one another.
An example are actor Yomi Fabiyi and actress Iyabo Ojo, who respectively stand on t the sides of Baba Ijesha and Princess.
Since Baba Ijesha was released, he has continued to produce skits and movies but the case is still very much on, as evident in the upcoming ruling.
According to experts, trial within trial is a mini trial within the context of the main trial. It is carried out to establish the allegation of involuntariness of a confession, while the main trial is suspended.
The trial-within-trial on the case commenced on November 19, and was embarked on to establish the voluntariness of the proposed confessional statement made by Baba Ijesha at the Sabo police division, Yaba, Lagos, after he was arrested on April 22.
Baba Ijesha had in the initial confessional statements taken by a police officer, Abigail Omame, confessed to raping a minor.
While the actor’s lawyers had claimed that the statement were obtained under duress, the prosecution, led by Y.A Sule, insisted that the defendant was not tortured but made the statement voluntarily.
Mr Sule also disclosed that the police did not beat Baba Ijesha or subject him to any inhumane treatment. He maintained that the beating was done by the mob in Princess’ house.
Ruling on the trial-within-trial will be made on December 15. The prosecution counsel was also given a summon note to one Brown Asuquo, a witness who refused to appear before the court. He was ordered to appear in the next court sitting.
