Olanrewaju James AKA Baba Ijesha To Be Charged Under Criminal Law Of Lagos State
Government with the Federal Government in giving soft loans and grants as well as making empowerment initiatives have assisted greatly in bridging skills-gap, unemployment rate and poverty. Specifically, the Commissioner reported that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihood of residents, especially the indigent, was minimal because of the succour provided by the various empowerment initiatives embarked upon by the Ministry.
Mrs. Arobieke said 8,000 residents were supported earlier this year, through a Special Grant for Rural Women in partnership with Federal Government. The beneficiaries are spread across all the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas.
No fewer than 22,647 beneficiaries under the variants (N-teach, N-Health, N-Agro) participated in a sensitisation workshop organised to review experiences, gather strategies needed post-N-Power programme and provide a platform for future career prospects. The Commissioner said the Graduate Internship Programme has invited 1,000 candidates who scored 60% and above in the online Assessment Test for the first tranche of the employability skills training. On capacity enhancement and upskilling for tradesmen and artisans, Mrs. Arobieke stated that 2000 artisans selected from trade associations were retrained in Y2020 while another batch of 2000 artisans will begin training soon.
Nigeria - It would be recalled that the Nigeria Police Force arrested Mr. Olanrewaju James (also referred to as Baba Ijesha) on account of various sexual abuse allegations. On the 30th of April, 2021, the Police forwarded the case file of COP v Olanrewaju James to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advise. After due consideration of the facts in the case file, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions issued legal advise on the 4th of May, 2021, which is to the effect that a prima facie case has been disclosed against Mr. Olanrewaju James and recommended he be charged under the following provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015:
(1). Section 135, Indecent Treatment of a child- punishable by 7 years imprisonment,
(2). Section 137- Defilement of a Child-, punishable by life imprisonment,
(3). Section 261- Sexual Assault by Penetration- punishable by life imprisonment,
(4). Section 262- Attempted Sexual Assault by Penetration, punishable by 14 years imprisonment and
(5). Section 263, Sexual Assaultpunishable by 3 years imprisonment. Whilst the State would ensure that Mr. Olanrewaju James’s rights as enshrined in the Constitution are upheld, the Ministry of Justice would not relent in its efforts in ensuring that whoever sexually abuses any resident of Lagos State is speedily brought to book.
It is instructive to note that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has been consistent in it’s efforts in protecting the vulnerable in our society and since the establishment of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team in 2014, it has till date prosecuted over 800 cases of Sexual and Domestic offenses.
The Attorney-General hereby assures Lagosians and indeed Nigerians that in accordance with the DPP’s advise, charges would be filed accordingly.