The Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, has fixed September 19, 2022 for ruling on post conviction bail application filed by convicted actor, Olanrewaju James popularly known as baba Ijesha.
The trial Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo fixed the date following the arguments of both prosecuting and defendant counsel on whether the convict has met special circumstances for court to grant him bail, pending appeal.
Two months after he was convicted, James through his counsel, approached the court for post conviction bail pending the determination of his appeal pending at the Lagos division of Court of Appeal.
He was convicted for indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault of a minor between 2013 and 2014 among other offences by the court sometimes in July, 2022.
He was sentenced to serve a five year concurrent jail term.
However, when the case was called for hearing yesterday, Mr. Chukwudi Adiukwu, one of the defense counsel for the convict, said that the team brought the notice for bail pending appeal in pursuant to section 6 (6) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Mr Adiukwu argued that section 51 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), 2015 empowers the court to admit his client to the applicant to bail, either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions.
In his explanation on the special circumstances, Mr Adiukwu said granting the application will serve the Course of justice as getting a date at the court of appeal might be difficult, considering the number at their (Appeal Court) dockets.
He added that with the prison month calendar, the convict would have served his five years concurrent jail term within three years and six months, before the hearing might take place.
He added that, Baba Ijesha was of good conduct before the court during his trial, and was never absent till the judgement.
The applicant counsel therefore, called for a consideration of the special circumstances of his conviction in granting bail to the convict.
But in responding to his arguments, the state counsel, Omowunmi Bajulaye-Bishi told the court the applicant counsel in their address failed to establish the special circumstances as laid down in ACJL.
She prayed the court to refuse the application and allow the convict to continue his sentences as prescribed.
After listened to their submission, Justice Taiwo subsequently adjourned ruling to September 19, 2022.
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