Adesina Ogunlana – the lawyer representing embattled Nollywood actor Baba Ijesha has said his client has become traumatized and emaciated in police detention and can no longer walk well.
Baba Ijesha whose real name is Olanrewaju James Omiyinka has been in police custody since his arrest in April for allegedly defiling the 14-year-old foster child of a popular comedian Princess.
In a letter addressed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Baba Ijesha’s lawyer, Mr Ogunlana assured the police that his client is not a flight risk and is ready to face trial whenever he is called up.
Mr Ogunlana added that keeping Baba Ijesha in detention for a bailable offense is a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
The letter reads:
“We are aware that a piece of legal advice on our client’s matter has been issued about two weeks ago, disclosing prospective charges of bailable character.
“From all indications, the investigation has been concluded in his matter and it is inconceivable that the issuance of legal advice will now be a basis for the denial of bail as you have been widely reported in the press to have claimed.
“We submit that the continuous detention of Mr Olanrewaju James Omiyinka at your SCID Panti Yaba facility, for about thirty days now, in our respectful view, is in gross breach of his fundamental human rights as cognisable under the 1999 constitution the grand norm of the nation’s legal architecture.
“As of today when I met with Omiyinka in the company of his thespian colleague and ready surety, Mr Yomi Fabiyi, he appeared traumatised, emaciated, and walked with a limp in his right leg. May I assure you, sir, that Mr Omiyinka is not a flight risk and he is prepared to face trial.”
