ASP Wahab Kareem on Friday told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James alias “Baba Ijesha” was facing another allegation of child defilement.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kareem, attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, Lagos, testified as the fifth prosecution witness in James’s trial for defilement of a minor.
Led in evidence by state counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, the police officer said: “During our investigation, another girl (name withheld) came forward and said the defendant assaulted her when she was 12 years old.
“We interviewed her and the defendant behind the counter, and he vehemently denied the allegation.
“The girl said the incident occurred at Agah area of Ikorodu, and we told a representative of the defendant to follow us to the house, and we met the landlord.
“The landlord showed us an apartment and said: `This is where Baba Ijesha used to stay’.
“Meanwhile, the defendant had denied living in that area.”
Following the testimony, the statement of James’s former landlord, Alhaji Jameel, and his statement at the SCID was admitted in evidence.
Earlier, Kareem testified that he was asked to take over the investigation of the case from a team due to complaints from Adekoya.
While being cross-examined by Mr Babatunde Ogala (SAN), Kareem said that he never visited the crime scene, adding that the other minor who also accused the defendant of defilement was brought to the police by Adekoya.
When asked to show where his superior countersigned the landlord’s statement as required by law, the witness said the landlord’s statement was not countersigned.
The policeman testified that a lawyer was not present when James made his initial statement to the police at the SCID.
NAN reports that James faces a six-count charge bordering on indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.
Actress and comedienne Adekoya, alias Princess, the foster mother of the alleged victim, was present in court.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until Nov.12 for continuation of trial
