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Baba Ijesha: A’Court reserves judgment on minor’s sexual assault

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The Court of Appeal Lagos Division, on Tuesday, reserved judgment in the appeal filed by a Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, over the sexual assault of a minor.

The appellant is challenging his conviction by a Lagos State High Court over sexual assault of a minor.
Baba Ijesha in his notice of appeal marked CA/LAG/CR/544/23 asked the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.

The retired Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, had on July 14, 2022, sentenced him to five years imprisonment over sexual assault of a minor.

The judge convicted and sentenced him after he was found guilty of four counts out of six counts, in suit number ID/14623C/2021 preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

The state had through its Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Babajide Martins, filed six counts bordering on indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault and sexual assault by penetration against the convict.

The court found Baba Ijesha guilty of indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault of a minor between 2013 and 2014, which contravened Section 135 of Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
He was exonerated of sexual assault by penetration.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Baba Ijesha through his counsel, Mr Kayode Olabiran, approached the appeal court, praying it to declare that his conviction and sentence were done in error.

At the hearing of the appeal on Tuesday, Baba Ijesha’s counsel, Olabiran, told the court that the appeal was filed on June 1, 2023.

He argued that the prosecution could not prove that Baba Ijesha sexually assaulted the victim.
Olabiran said: “The charge itself is centered on defilement of a minor but the prosecution could not prove the age of the victim.

“The appellant was set up. The appellant is an actor. He acted in a script that he was invited to act by his colleague, PW1, Damilola Adekoya.

“PW1 asked the appellant to come and act a script. It is in the statement of PW1 at Panti Police Station, unknowingly to the appellant there was a CCTV in the sitting room.

“Whatever we watched in that movie was a script by the producer and the video of the scene of the acting was tendered by the prosecution.”

The counsel told the court that the confessional statement of the convict on the day he was arrested was done under duress.

He added that the convict was beaten by many people on that day which made him confess to committing the offence.

Olabiran, however, urged the court to allow the appeal and  set aside the judgment of the lower court, delivered on July 14, 2022.

In his response, the DPP,  Martins, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.

He said that the appeal lacked merit and was a misconception.

Martins also urged the court to affirm the judgment of the lower court which convicted Baba Ijesha of indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault.

On the age of the victim, Martins, submitted that the victim was born on Oct. 6, 2006, which put her age at 14, in 2013 when the offence was committed.

“At the time she gave evidence in 2021, she was 17 years old, which still makes her a child,” he said.

The three-man panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Folasade Ojo, reserved judgment after listening to the arguments of the parties.

Other members of the panel were Justice Abdullahi Bayero and Justice Paul Bassi.

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Nigerians react as beggars take to Tiktok for alms

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Nigerians across social media are now reacting to the clip of beggars seen appealing to people on TikTok for alms.

The video, which was generated from one of the live done by the beggars, went viral on Thursday and has since then been discussed among Nigerians.

In the clip, the lead beggar who appeared to be disabled directed two others behind him who could barely walk too.

He was seen rolling on the floor and begging for gifts on the app in the Hausa Language.

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However, not pleased with their action, some Nigerians have queried if someone was behind the account opening, using them to get sympathy and gifts from their unsuspecting victims.

D great Bundee, a user who tweeted on X with the handle #greatbundee, said, “Definitely a syndicate using handicaps to exploit people.”

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BET Awards 2024: Burna Boy, Asake, others bag nominations as Drake, Nicki Minaj lead

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Afrobeats superstar, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy has secured two nominations for the 2024 BET Awards.

The ‘African giant’ featured in the Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Best Male   R&B/POP Artist categories.

The singer is joined by fellow Nigerian acts – Asake, Ayra Starr and Seyi Vibez.

BET announced the 2024 BET Awards nominees on Thursday as Drake leads the nominations with seven, while Nicki Minaj has six.

BET also announced the performance lineup for this year’s awards, including GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, and Victoria Monét.

The BET Awards 2024, will air live on BET on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at 8 p.m. (European Time).

See the full list of nominations below:

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

21 Savage
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Gunna
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Wayne

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Cardi B
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Sexyy Red

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Asake (Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Africa)
Bk’ (Brazil)
Cleo Sol (UK)
Focalistic (Africa)
Karol Conká (Brazil)
Raye (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Tyla (Africa)

BEST NEW ARTIST

41
4batz
Ayra Starr
Bossman Dlow
Fridayy
October London
Sexyy Red
Tyla

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

11:11, Chris Brown
A Gift & A Curse, Gunna
American Dream, 21 Savage
Coming Home, Usher
For All The Dogs (Scary Hours Edition), Drake
Jaguar Ii, Victoria Monét
Michael, Killer Mike
Pink Friday 2, Nicki Minaj

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

Beyoncé
Coco Jones
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Muni Long
Sza
Tyla
Victoria Monét

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

Brent Faiyaz
Bryson Tiller
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
October London
Usher

BEST GROUP

¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $Ign
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
41
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
City Girls
Flo
Maverick City Music
Wanmor

BEST COLLABORATION

All My Life, Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
America Has A Problem (Remix, Beyoncé Feat. Kendrick Lamar
Barbie World, Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua)
Bongos, Cardi B Feat. Megan Thee Stallion
Carnival, ¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $Ign Feat. Rich The Kid, Playboi Carti
Don’t Play With It (Remix), Lola Brooke Feat. Latto & Yung Miami
Everybody, Nicki Minaj Feat. Lil Uzi Vert
Good Good, Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage
Rich Baby Daddy, Drake Feat. Sexyy Red & Sza

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Agora Hills, Doja Cat
All My Life, Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
Barbie World, Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua)
Bongos, Cardi B Feat. Megan Thee Stallion
First Person Shooter, Drake Feat. J. Cole
Good Good, Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage
On My Mama, Victoria Monét
Rich Baby Daddy, Drake Feat. Sexyy Red & Sza

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Benny Boom
Child.
Cole Bennett
Dave Meyers
Janelle Monáe & Alan Ferguson
Offset
Tems
Tyler, The Creator

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

Award All Of The Glory, Shirley Caesar
All Things, Kirk Franklin
Angel, Halle Bailey
Come Jesus Come, Cece Winans
Do You Believe In Love?, Erica Campbell
God Problems, Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
Me & U, Tems
Try Love, Kirk Franklin

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

Agora Hills, Doja Cat
All My Life, Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
Gunna, Fukumean
Lovin On Me, Jack Harlow
Made For Me, Muni Long
On My Mama, Victoria Monét
Rich Baby Daddy, Drake Feat. Sexyy Red & Sza
Sensational, Chris Brown Feat. Davido & Lojay
Texas Hold ‘Em, Beyoncé
Water, Tyla

VIEWER’S CHOICE: BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT

Bellah (UK)
Cristale (UK)
Duquesa (Brazil)
Holly G (France)
Jungeli (France)
Makhadzi (Africa)
Oruam (Brazil)
Seyi Vibez (Africa)
Tyler Icu (Africa)

BET HER

16 Carriages, Beyoncé
Blessings, Nicki Minaj Feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Commas, Ayra Starr
Fly Girl, Flo Feat. Missy Elliott
Hiss, Megan Thee Stallion
On My Mama, Victoria Monét
Saturn, Sza
Yeah Glo!, GloRilla

BEST MOVIE

American Fiction
Bob Marley: One Love
Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
The Book Of Clarence
The Color Purple
The Equalizer 3
The Little Mermaid

BEST ACTOR

Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Damson Idris
Denzel Washington
Donald Glover
Idris Elba
Jeffrey Wright
Lakeith Stanfield

BEST ACTRESS

Angela Bassett
Ayo Edebiri
Coco Jones
Danielle Brooks
Fantasia
Halle Bailey
Issa Rae
Regina King

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter
Demi Singleton
Heiress Diana Harris
Jabria Mccullum
Jalyn Hall
Leah Jeffries
Van Van

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

Anthony Edwards
Gervonta Davis
Jalen Brunson
Jalen Hurts
Kyrie Irving
Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese
Coco Gauff
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Naomi Osaka
Sha’carri Richardson
Simone Biles

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BBNaija’s Neo, Venita win Best Dressed Male, Female at AMVCA Cultural Day

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Big Brother Naija reality stars and cousins, Neo and Venita Akpofure shone bright at the 10th African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards’ cultural day held in Lagos on Friday night.

Neo won the Best Dressed Male award, while Venita was adjudged the Best Dressed Female for the second consecutive year.

The duo donned Itsekiri royal attires for the 10th AMVCA’s Cultural Day and Opening Night celebration.

They were presented cheques of N1 million each by the organisers.

The 10th AMVCA Main Awards Ceremony holds Saturday, May 11, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos State.

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