Baba Ijesha’s lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana, has revealed that his client has remained in police detention despite being granted bail.
The popular Nollywood actor who was arrested in April for sexually molesting a minor was granted bail on Monday afternoon on health grounds, but according to his lawyer, he has remained in police detention.
In a video he shared on social media, Adesina explained that his client has remain in detention because he has two sets of lawyers and while he insists Baba Ijesha be released without paying bail money, the other set of lawyers are negotiating with the police who are asking for money to be paid as bail.
In his words,
“The main problem is Ijesha has two sets of lawyers. The first set are the normal, due process conservative group and the other one is led by me, the one that they’re seeing as volatile, as radical, as activist, as confrontational.
“This difference in methods and opinions between both sets of lawyers is delaying Ijesha’s release”.
Speaking further, he named a senior police officer heading the gender unit, Margaret Ighodalo, and said she’s comfortable working with the other set of lawyers thereby delaying Baba Ijesha’s release until money has been paid.
Adesina Ogunlana said Margaret Ighodalo keeps insisting it’s the other set of lawyers that she knows and will work with. He also said that she’s been “hostile” towards him.
He added that the other set of lawyers have also been reluctant to work together with him because they are concerned about someone else “stealing glory” from them.
He explained that he has disagreed with the other group of lawyers in relation to paying for bail. He said he insisted that bail shouldn’t be monetized but the other group are saying it’s the way it’s done and are trying to raise money for it.
He said,
“How can you be monetising bail? And lawyers will be acceding to that. How can you accede to the monetisation of bail? The burden that the magistrate has not imposed. The magistrate never ordered that money be paid.”
“All those other counsel saying somebody is stealing your glory, nobody is stealing your glory. If I have any glory at all, it is enough for me. Who is stealing anybody’s glory? Who is taking your job? But the interest is that justice must be served without any compromise.
“So, for people asking me, direct your enquiries to those other lawyers that are comfortable working with the police and the police are comfortable, Margaret Ighodalo specifically, to work with them.
“Everybody knows our reputation. We don’t give bribe, we don’t give money, and there’s no need to give money.
“Once again, I’m challenging all those I’ve mentioned, if these things did not happen, if it’s an invention, Baba Ijesha should be released. Nigerians must learn never ever to be negotiating their rights.” He added.
Watch him speak below,
