Mild drama occurred on Thursday when Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to the offence of sexually assaulting a minor.
The embattled actor who allegedly confessed to have harassed the girl in question via a video confession may have made a u-turn.
Baba Ijesha, who was conveyed to the court in chain was arraigned before a Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos.
Decked in a white hooded jacket and a mask, Ijesha was arraigned by the State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on a six-count of attempted sexual assault, sexual assault of a minor and indecent treatment of a child.
He however pleaded not guilty to all six counts.
The DPP, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, subsequently told trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the commencement of trial.
The defence team led by two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Babatunde Ogala and Dada Awosika however informed the court that the defence team had filed a bail application and had served the same on the prosecution.
Ogala asked the court to grant them an audience to argue the bail application.
Objecting the request, the DPP, Mrs Adeyemi stated that her team is yet to verify the medical reports which the defense intends to rely on for his bail consideration.
But in a short ruling, Justice Taiwo granted the request of the defense team and asked parties to argue the bail application.
Lead counsel to the defendant, Babatunde Ogala reminded the court that the issue of bail is purely the right of the defendant as a citizen in line with Section 36 (5) of the Constitution. He asked the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.
The DPP countered the arguments by insisting that the granting of bail is purely at the discretion of the court.
She asked the court to consider the nature of the offence and refuse the request for bail.
The matter was thereafter stood down by Justice Taiwo pending her ruling on the bail application.
Baba Ijesha was granted bail by magistrates and judicial workers on tour to decongest prisons in the state during the industrial action by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria.
However, Baba Ijesha could not meet the bail conditions which include N500,000 and a level 16 civil servant as surety.
The actor has since been granted bail.
