The Lagos State government and prosecutor in the alleged rape case involving comedic Yoruba actor Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha, have now concluded their investigation into the beleaguered Nollywood actor.
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The state government, acting as public prosecutor, filed a five-count indictment against Baba Ijesha in May, ranging from indecent treatment of a kid to child defilement, among other things.
This came after the actor was detained by the police for reportedly defiling the 14-year-old goddaughter of one of his Nollywood colleagues.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State government has finished presenting its witnesses and ended its case against the actor, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). So, here’s the most important thing to take away from the report:
The prosecution (Lagos State Government) closing its case against an accused (Baba Ijesha) does not imply that the matter has been dropped; rather, it indicates that the prosecution has finished its principal task in prosecuting the accused.
Baba Ijesha has pled not guilty to the Lagos State government’s five-count accusation, and by doing so, he is informing the court that he is innocent of the charges and that he should be released free. Meanwhile, as the prosecution, the Lagos State Government has the burden of proof to persuade the court, based on credible evidence, that the accused is guilty of all allegations leveled against him.
In light of this, the Lagos State Government has called six witnesses to testify in court against Baba Ijesha. The lawyers defending Baba Ijesha also cross-examined the witnesses and probed their testimony. As a result, the prosecution team has no further evidence to offer against the accused, and their case against him is closed, bringing the first stage of the legal procedure to a close.
In the meantime, the defense counsel (Baba Ijesha’s lawyers) will be compelled to provide their own evidence to the court in order to contradict the prosecution’s evidence. The court will now make its decision based on the evidence presented by both legal parties, whether the accused is guilty or not.
As a result, the Lagos State government has made progress in its case against Baba Ijesha.
