Actor Olanrewaju James aka Baba Ijesha who is currently on trial over an alleged sexual assault of a minor has accused comedienne Princess of supplying the information inputted in the police statement which he claims he was forced to signed.
Baba Ijesha made the allegation while giving evidence in his trial-within-trial which was ordered by the judge, Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Sexual Offences Court In Ikeja, Lagos on Friday.
Justice Taiwo ordered the special procedure, while suspending the testimony of the prosecution’s sixth witness, Police Inspector, Abigail Omane, in order to find out whether the statement was truthfully obtained under duress, as alleged by the defence.
The accused also told the court that he had been beaten up in the residence of the comedienne before Inspector Omane arrived, and that he was further beaten in her presence by four other persons.
“I was first put in the cell and then brought out to where Abigail was waiting for me. She ordered me to sit on the floor, she asked for my name but Princess objected against the question, saying I could run away. Princess then supplied all the information to the officer, and I was told to sign or else I would be detained further. I signed and I was taken back to the cell, ” he said in parts.
The actor also added that he was shaking while at the police station following the beatings he received.
However, during his cross examination, the prosecuting counsel, Yusuf Sule asked him whether he knew the police officer before the case came up, he answered no.
Meanwhile Inspector Omane had earlier testified that she wrote the statements of both Princess and Baba Ijesha based on the answers provided to her questions, and that they read the statements and signed afterwards, which she did because they claimed they were too shaken to write.
Upon the close of evidence by both sides, the judge adjourned till December 2 for the adoption of addresses on the trial-within-trial.
