Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, says reports that the Command plans to release popular actor James Omiyinka alias Baba Ijesha from custody are not true.
Odumosu said the suspect was still being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.
The police commissioner made this clarification following a protest at the SCID over a report that the police planned to release Baba Ijesha on Friday.
Odumosu said the allegation against the actor was sexual/ indecent assault which is bailable and not defilement.
The Lagos police boss said he interviewed all parties to the case for about three hours where it was established that the alleged defilement took place seven-years-ago but was not reported.
Odumosu said, “You don’t do trial on the pages of newspapers. There are two issues in Baba Ijesha’s case. One is the allegation that he defiled a girl seven-years-ago . The girl is now 14 years old. At that time no complaint or report was made to the police.
“Last week, a video went viral where he was arrested for having a sexual assault. What is meant by indecent assault? When a man touches a woman where he is not supposed to without her authority or consent.
“Baba Ijesha admitted that he sexually assaulted the girl. The case of defilement that happened seven years ago is still under thorough investigation and will require some scientific work.
“Sexual assault is a bailable offence. It is not like rape. No allegation of rape was made against him. Throughout yesterday, they were all with me, including the girl that was assaulted and Baba Ijesha himself. I listened to them, one after the other.
“We have compiled the case file and we have sent it to the office of DPP and the office of the Attorney General of Lagos State for legal advice.
“Once that comes out, action will be taken based on legal advice. Till then, Baba Ijesha’ is still in our custody. The case is bailable but we have not considered him for bail.”