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Nollywood actor, Olarewaju James otherwise known as Baba Ijesha, has disowned former Chairman of Ikeja Branch of Nigerian Bar Association, Adeshina Ogunlala, as his counsel.
This was contained in a disclaimer issued on Saturday by the actor through his lawyer, Kayode Olabisan, noting that he never hired Ogunlala as his lawyer, News Agency of Nigeria reports.
He said, “I wish to state categorically and emphatically that I have never briefed the lawyer nor instructed him to act on my behalf in any way, or manner howsoever and whatsoever.
“He (Ogunlana) is not my lawyer, and whatever you heard or hear from him concerning my lawyers, the police or court case does not represent the true position.
“He has been acting without my knowledge or consent.”
Recall that the actor has been in the limelight after he was arrested by the police for alleged sexual assault and defilement of the 14-year-old foster daughter of comedienne, Princess.
A magistrate granted Baba Ijesha bail on Monday despite judicial workers being on strike.
The disclaimer also stated that the police never demanded for money from the actor for the bail, which was granted him by a magistrate on health grounds.
“This is aside the N500,000 refundable bail bond which formed part of my bail conditions ordered by the court.
“The bail bond is payable to the court registry’s account and not police account,” the disclaimer read.
According to his lawyer, “Baba Ijesha” noted that the actor was granted bail on May 17, by a team from Lagos State Judiciary, Nigerian Bar Association and the state Ministry of Justice.
The team had visited the State Criminal Investigation Department Panti, Yaba, Lagos, in an effort to decongest police stations across Lagos State.
The lawyer said that though the actor had fulfilled all the bail conditions, he had yet to be formally released by the judiciary.
“He is not out of police custody, we are hoping that the judiciary, the team from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution will come again to Panti next week.
“It is one thing to be granted bail and another for your release to be ordered upon meeting all the conditions.
In his reaction, Ogunlana had said in an interview with Saturday Punch that he merely volunteered to ‘represent’ the actor when he visited Panti and saw his ‘pitiable condition’.
This post was written by Obiajulu Joel Nwolu.
The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.