Forensic report presented at an Ikeja Sexual Offences Court has detailed how Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, allegedly molested a minor.
A child forensic expert, Mrs Anike Ajayi-Kayode, who testified as the third Prosecution witness said the case was referred to her by the Special Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Lagos State Command, Nigerian Police Force forensic Investigation, explained that the outcome of her forensic Investigation revealed that the perpetrator engaged the child in sexual activities twice when she was seven years old.
Mrs Ajayi-Kayode, who said she had participated in over 25 child forensic interviews, is also the Executive Director of the Cece Yara Foundation, a non-governmental organisation founded to prevent child sexual abuse and provide emergency intervention for children.
According to her, the alleged victim was relaxed, cooperative and could recall events during interviews.
The child expert told the court that the attributes exhibited by the defendant were the dynamics of child sexual abusers and the modus operandi of perpetrators which involves “secrecy, intimidation, threat or coercion”.
She said the defendants attributes were also “similar to that exhibited by child abusers all over the world” due to vulnerability of their victims.
“These are the clinical presentations of child sexual abuse.
“These are the dynamics of child sexual abuse and the modus operandi of perpetrators – inculcation of secrecy, intimidation, threat or coercion.”
The expert said she drafted a forensic interview report after the interview.
The prosecution tendered a copy of the report marked as Exhibit G, to the court as evidence.
The witness also said that the forensic interview was digitally recorded in flash drives
The prosecution also submitted flash drives containing the digital forensic interview of the minor. It was marked Exhibits H and H1.
The defence counsel had sought an adjournment due to the absence of the Lead counsel Babatunde Ogala and Dada Awosika.
However, the request for an adjournment was opposed as Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo ordered that the trial should proceed.
Baba Ijesha is facing a six-count charge bordering on the indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.
The matter has been adjourned to October 20 and 21 for cross examination of the forensic expert by the defence.
