Law & JusticeLove & HappinessNewsBaba Ijesha Pleads Not Guilty, Claims Princess Framed Him Because He Broke Up With Her

LAGOS — Embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James popularly known as Baba Ijesha on Friday, March 4, told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that comedienne, Damilola Adekoya, aka Princess, is his former lover, as his trial for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor who is the foster child of his colleague, Princess resumed.

Testifying in court, Baba Ijesha who is facing six counts bordering on allegations of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration claimed Princess was his lover and she’s framing him because he ended his relationship with her.

Led in evidence by the defence counsel, Dada Awosika, SAN, Baba Ijesha described the nature of the relationship he allegedly had with Princess.

He said, “We were dating, my lord. She always slept in my room. We slept together. We both touched and kissed ourselves.”

Recounting how he met Princess, the defendant claimed that he received a phone call from the comedienne while he was an on-air personality on Radio Lagos and LTV 8.

According to him, “She said she was my number one fan and she asked me to promote her on my programme. That is how we started. She told me she wanted to join the Yoruba section because the English section is bad. She also asked me to introduce her to my producer.”

Narrating what transpired in 2014, the day he allegedly sexually molested Princess’s foster daughter with a car key, he said that in October 2014, a day after he returned from visiting his wife in the United Kingdom, he received a phone call from Princess, informing him that she was sick and needed some fruits.

He said he bought some fruits and took them to her home, adding, “Immediately I opened the door to her house and saw her half-naked, I then told her I’d be outside and that the fruits were inside the car. Few minutes after, the young girl (Princess’s foster daughter) came to pick the fruits from the car.”

Under cross-examination by the Lagos State Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Dr Jide Martins, the defendant denied defiling the minor with his car key during the visit. However, he admitted that he had known the child since she was seven years old and also visited Princess at home seven years ago.

Baba Ijesha, who at a point broke down in tears during the cross-examination, said the evidence he gave in court in his defence was not an afterthought. He described Princess as a jilted lover, insisting that much evidence existed to show that he and Princess were in a relationship, though such evidence was not tendered in court.

“Princess is not my benefactor. She is the one who benefitted from me,” he said.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until March 11 for the continuation of defence.