The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has said that it will be prosecuting Nollywood actor, Mr Yomi Fabiyi over alleged of contempt of court for the airing of a movie he produced called “Oko Iyabo”.
The Director of the DPP, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi on Monday made the intentions of Lagos State known at an Ikeja Special Offences Court during the trial of Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha over alleged defilement of a minor.
Baba Ijesha is facing a six-count charge bordering on indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.
Before the start of Monday’s proceedings, Adeyemi brought to the attention of the court that despite the warnings of the court during proceedings of June 24, that the matter was sub judice, Fabiyi aired a movie about the case.
Sub judice means that the case under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion elsewhere.
Adeyemi noted that the movie which was aired after the proceedings of June 24 breached the Judge’s directives by revealing sensitive information about the case which is before the court.
“Despite the warnings of this honourable court, a actor called Yomi Fabiyi went ahead and made a movie about the facts of this case.
“He used real names of the parties and witnesses in this matter in the movie. Our application is to exclude him, his privies and his agents from proceedings in court.
“He is not in court at the moment but his representatives may be in court. This is contempt of court and we intend to prosecute him and bring him before this court,” the DPP said.
Reacting, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo expressed displeasure about the development and ordered an investigation.
“This case is sub judice and you are not to be making videos and disparaging comments on social media. This needs to be investigated,” the judge said.
Responding to the allegations, the lead defence counsel, Mr Babatunde Ogala and Dada Awosika both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) said that though he was aware of the movie, it was filmed before the criminal case began in court.
“The movie is about the controversy between two artistes – Yomi Fabiyi and Iyabo Ojo. I saw the movie on YouTube.
“The two of them are supporters on different sides. Fabiyi is one supporter and Ojo is another supporter.
“This movie is about the controversy between both of them and they are not parties to this case,” Awosika said.
Justice Taiwo, reiterated the fact that the allegations against Fabiyi should be investigated by authorities to enable legal actions to be taken against him if he is found culpable.
Actress and comedienne, Ms Damilola Adekoya alias Princess later testified that the Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha defiled her foster daughter (name withheld) when she was watching cartoons.
Princess made the revelation while testifying as the first prosecution witness in the trial of the defendant over six-counts of defilement.
Led in evidence by Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Adekoya said that the defendant had defiled the minor seven-years ago while she was watching cartoons in the living room.
Princess told the court that she met Baba Ijesha in 2008 and she had been a friend and a benefactor to him and that 2013 she had challenges in her marriage and she was also battling ill health and that the defendant had paid her a visit to sympatise with her.
She noted that during his visit, she had left her apartment for approximately seven minutes to see off a visiting relative leaving him with her seven-year-old daughter who was watching cartoons.
“My daughter told me seven-years later that on that day, when I saw my guest off, Baba Ijesha was asked her if she was enjoying her cartoon and he now told her that she should come let him play with her.
“She said when she got to where he was sitting, he asked her to remove her pant and he removed his trousers. At that point I asked her which Baba Ijesha? She said it’s the same Baba Ijesha, Lanre Omiyinka James.
“She said he asked her to sit on him and start wriggling my waist. I continued until something like water splashed all over my body and he told me not to tell my mum that it is just like play, just like cartoon.
“She said when he heard the gate close he told her to stand up and go to the bathroom to clean herself and he then used his face towel to clean up himself,” she said.
Princess told the court that after the revelations she asked her daughter why she did not tell her about what happened and she told her that she did not initially understand what happened.
The witness said that her daughter however said she understood what happened to her a few years after incident.
“I help children who have been molested around the Bariga area and to that one day I was crying and talking about what had happened to the child.
“My daughter said when she overheard me, she figured that that was what had happened to her,” she said.
Princess said that Baba Ijesha also molested her daughter again the day after the first incident when he came to deliver some fruits into her house.
“He opened the car and told her that that is the nylon, bend down and pick it and that when she bent down to pick up the fruits, he inserted the car keys inside her vagina.
“She said immediately she felt some kind of pain and jerked and said ‘Uncle’ and that he said I’ve told you do not tell your mummy anything that happened. You’re my friend,” she said.
Princess said her daughter said that she did not tell her about second the incident because of the state of her health and that she had just undergone surgery.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until July 27 for continuation of trial.
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