Baba Ijesha Defiled The Minor Twice As A Child And Once As A Teenager Forensic Expert Tells Court

Earlier today, the hearing on the trial of the child molestation case involving popular actor Omiyinka James aka Baba Ijesha and the god-daughter comedienne Damilola Adekoya resumed at the Special Offences, High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, where a witness was called to stand, a child forensic interview expert, Mrs Anike Ajayi-Kayode who during her witness testimony revealed that Baba Ijesha had defiled the girl in question twice as a 7-year-old child and most recently once as a 14-year-old teenage, this year as 19th of April, 2021.

Mrs Ajayi-Kayode who was a witness called by the prosecution on the case, revealed that she is the Executive Director of the Cece Yara Foundation, a non-governmental organisation founded to prevent child sexual abuse and provide emergency intervention for children, she revealed that she had worked on child abuse cases for the Unicef.
READ ALSO: “Apart From Baba Ijesha, Two Other Men Harassed My 14-year-old Daughter” – Princess Tells Court

Testifying as the third prosecution witness, Ajayi-Kayode told the court that she was a certified child forensic interview specialist. She said she had participated in over 25 child forensic interviews.

The lead prosecution counsel on the case, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), questioned Mrs Ajayi-Kayode if the alleged victim was relaxed, cooperative and could clearly recall the events during her forensic interview.

Mrs Ajayi-Kayode replied, “The clinal presentation of child sexual abuse was quite evident. The perpetrator engaged the child in sexual activity when she was seven years old, on two occasions and also inserted his car key into her vagina.
READ ALSO: Child Molestation: Princess Narrates In Court How She Baited Baba Ijesha

“On the 19th of April 2021, he sexually harassed her, touching her body. Mrs Ajayi then alleged that Baba Ijesha had told the victim: ‘I touched you some years back, do you remember what I taught you years back, you are fully grown now, much more developed now. Do you have a boyfriend? We have some unfinished business.

“These are the clinical presentations of child sexual abuse.

“These are the dynamics of child sexual abuse and the modus operandi of perpetrators – inculcation of secrecy, intimidation, threat or coercion,” she said.

The expert noted that child sexual abuse involved only the victim and the perpetrator, adding that because of her vulnerability, a child might not be able to comprehend the magnitude of the offence.

Ajayi-Kayode said that after the interview, she drafted a forensic interview report.

A copy of the report was presented to the court by the prosecution as evidence.

It was marked as Exhibit G.

The witness also said that the forensic interview was digitally recorded.

Flash drives containing the digital forensic interview of the minor was also tendered in evidence by the prosecution and was admitted marked as Exhibits H and H1.

“My conclusion is that she narrated the whole truth, she was tenacious, she was bold and relaxed,” the expert said.

At the start of proceedings, the defence had sought an adjournment due to the absence of Lead counsel Mr Babatunde Ogala (SAN) and Mr Dada Awosika (SAN).

A member of the defence team, Mr N.A. Egbeyemi said that Ogala, in a letter dated Sept. 27, had asked for an adjournment of proceedings because he would be unavoidably absent.

However, the DPP opposed the request for an adjournment, citing that the court had notified both the prosecution and the defence counsel that the new date for the Baba Ijesha’s was to hold September 28th and that the defence counsel did not oppose this since August 19 when the notifier was sent why is it now just requesting for an adjournment date 2-days before hearing.

Consequently, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo ordered that the trial should proceed with the third prosecution witness (Ajayi-Kayode) giving evidence.

The judge adjourned the case to Oct. 20 for cross-examination of the witness.

Actress and comedienne Damilola Adekoya (alias Princess), the foster mother of the minor, Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, and Koffi the comedian were present in court today during Tuesday’s proceedings.

Watch our trending video of the day below;

Photo Credit: Getty