A former House of Representatives member, Hon. Rotimi Makinde, has restated that the popular Yoruba comedian accused of defiling a 7 year old girl, Lanre Omiyinka a.k.a Baba Ijesha, deserves a benefit of doubt until a court of competent jurisdiction proves him guilty of the offence.
Makinde, a fellow movie actor, posited in a statement that, at his level, he is aware of the position of the law which is to presume an offender as innocent until a court of competent jurisdiction passes judgement on the case.
“I have not in anyway dignified the offender. I am a parent too and I can understand the agony of the girl’s parents,” he declared, adding that an average Nigerian can be mischievous on issues of this nature.
“However, he stressed, if Baba ijesha got himself enmessed in this, he should pay for it.
Meanwhile, the politician said he was unfazed by public criticisms of his stand on the matter.
“I have no regret on my statement. My offence is simply because I am a politician,” he stated.
Based on police findings, Baba Ijesha allegedly started to sexually assaulting the victim, who is now 14 years old seven years ago.
The actor confessed to the crime and was also captured by a CCTV camera in the house of the complainant, according to the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, during a press briefing.
-Oyin Princess