How Baba Ijesha molested my daughter — Princess

Princess and Baba Ijesha.

ACE Comedienne, Damilola Adekanya, also known as Princess, yesterday, narrated before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos, how embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, called Baba Ijesha, molested her foster daughter at her residence.

Baba Ijesha, who is currently on bail, is standing trial on a six-count charge of sexual assault by penetration, indecent treatment of a child and attempted sexual assault.

The defendant was alleged to have committed the offence between 2013 and 2014, on April 19, 2021, around Joseph Harrison Street and No 13 Wegbo Street, Iwaya, Yaba, Lagos.

Princess, while being led in evidence by the state prosecutor, Olayinka Adeyemi, gave an account of the events that led to her discovery of the sexual assault.

Recollecting part of events that took place before the incident, Princess said: “I had gathered my family together to watch a movie I acted, alongside Baba Ijesha. But, surprisingly, when my little girl saw Baba Ijesha in the movie, she didn’t want to watch it anymore.

“At first, my little girl didn’t want to open up to me about what was making her react abnormal anytime she sees the defendant. But she later opened up to me after speaking to one of my friends.

“My girl said to me: ‘Mummy, remember the day Mummy Ope came to our house and you saw her off. Uncle Lanre told me to come close and play with him. Uncle Lanre asked me to put down my pant and he pulled down his trouser. He then told me to twist my waist on him and something came out of him and poured on me.”

Stating how Baba Ijesha was eventually apprehended through a CCTV camera, she said: “We were monitoring him on two phones. We could see how he was entering every room of the house to see if anyone was around and checking if there was any camera at any angle of the house and sat down.

“He also checked the stairs but could not see us because we had hidden at the second flight of the stairs. We saw him beckoning at my daughter; removing his shoe and so many things happened on that video that I find it difficult to say.

“When he grabbed her and started licking her hands, her body, suck on her tomb, pressed her breast, touched her lap, I could even see her shaking at this point. He stood up, picked up his phone and grabbed her, stuck his tongue in her ears and started kissing her forcefully. She tried to push back against him.

“When the CCTV guys forced their way into the house, the accused said ‘please sirs, I’m sorry. Not too long after the police arrived at the scene, they learned of what had happened and took him away to the police station.

Princess also told the court that Baba Ijesha tried to woo her back in 2008.  

According to Princess, she met Baba Ijesha in 2008 at an event and the two decided to start making comedy skits together.

The comedienne also claimed Baba Ijesha wooed her in the process of their work relationship but she rejected his proposal.

Princess said she got close to the actor afterwards, especially after her marriage crashed around 2013. She also claimed she invested in Baba Ijesha’s education and the actor visited her at home thereafter.

The matter took a twist when state prosecutor, Mr. Adeyemi, informed the court that the prosecution intends to tender two compact discs, containing video recordings, of the alleged molestation of the girl-child.

The presiding Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, thereafter, ordered litigants and journalists to exit the courtroom for the video recording of the incident to be played inside the courtroom.

The matter was, thereafter, adjourned for continuation of the trial.