The former National Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr Monday Ubani has said the convicted Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, alias Baba Ijesha, who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old minor, should be grateful for the “minimal” sentence.
Ubani made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday.
”If court held that he committed the offence, then he must be very thankful to the court for giving him a five-year-sentence because I know sexual assault carries 20 years imprisonment.
“If the court found out from the evidence that was produced that he actually assaulted that girl, then he must count himself very lucky,” he said.
Ubani, however, said that the convict had right to appeal the sentence to prove his innocence.
“The convict can go on appeal and from Court of Appeal, he may even proceed to the Supreme Court to prove that he did not commit the offence.
“We must put into consideration that High Court is not the final court. He still has the right to Court of Appeal and Supreme Court if he wants to,” Ubani said.
Also speaking, a Lagos based-lawyer, Mr Ige Asemudara lauded the decision of the court in sentencing the convict, adding that the court had the final say.
“I was not in the case and did not have the opportunity of seeing the evidence but whatever my Lord said, my Lord has the privilege of seeing the case and hearing from both sides.
“As such, whatever judgment she has given, has come from the evidence before her.
“For us lawyers, once a judgment is given, it becomes law.
“For the person in which the judgment is given, it becomes a legal liability and for the person whose favour it is given, it is a legal right.
“The convict has a duty to serve his term except his lawyer wants to file an appeal and he wins in appeal. But at the moment, he is a convict,” Asemudara said.
NAN reports that the convicted actor was on Thursday sentenced to five years imprisonment for sexually a 14-year-old minor.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in her two hours judgment, held that the prosecution had successfully proven the charge of sexual assault of a minor and indecent treatment of a minor against the convict.
Justice Taiwo said the sentencing, takes effect from July 14.
“The defendant took his acting too far. Children are frequently preyed on because of their inability to defend themselves.
“However, the court is not distracted. The defendant abused the position of friendship.
“This case brings to the limelight various sexual assault cases in the society despite the efforts of government and non-governmental organisations to sensitise the public on incessant cases of sexual assault.
“The is very sad. The behaviour of the defendant is appalling, as this shows the length people can go in exhibiting the animalistic urge in them,” she said.
The judge remarked that the case attracted frivolous comments on social media because of the personality of the actor.