Families of the Abuja-Kaduna train kidnap victims have led a protest to the the Ministry of Transportation on early this morning against the continued stay of their loved ones in the terrorists’ den.
This came after viral video released by the kidnappers showing the victims being mercilessly flogged.
The families who have been at the ministry since 6 am said they were there to express their frustration over the continued stay of those in captivity.
Popular Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison on 2 counts of sexual assualt on a minor.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on Thursday handed the sentence to Baba Ijesha who has been facing six counts of child defilement that included indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.
The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, which proffered the charges against the actor, argued that the offences contravene Section 135, 137, 261, 202, 262 and 263 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015, which stipulates life imprisonment for offenders.
Although Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to all the counts, a Closed-Circuit Television video recording detailing his relationship with the victim said to be a minor was played in court.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Taiwo said that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of all the charges against him.
However, she found the defendant guilty of two of the six counts leveled against him.
The defendant was arraigned on June 24, 2021, where six prosecution witnesses testified against him.
They were actress and comedienne, Princess, the 14-year-old minor, a child expert, Mrs Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode, and medical doctor, Dr Aniekan Makanjuola.
Others were the Investigating Police Officer, ASP Wahab Kareem, and a policewoman, Inspector Abigail Omane.
Baba Ijesha called four witnesses and closed its defence on April 1.
The defence witnesses were Baba Ijesha (defendant) and Mr Lawrence Ayeni, an expert in video production and CCTV installation and maintenance.
Mr Olukayode Olugbemi, a clinical psychologist and Mr Olukayode Ogunbanjo, the defendant’s friend and colleague also testified for the defence.
Defence counsel, Mr Dada Awosika (SAN), in adopting his final written address dated May 12 and filed on May 16, urged the court to dismiss the suit and discharge the defendant.
A four-storey building under construction at 4, Alayaki Lane, Lagos Island has collapsed on Saturday, May 21.
Mr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, a Permanent Secretary with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said “An unconfirmed number of people are still trapped inside the building,”
“The Agency responded to the above incident which was already in violation of building safety protocols,” the statement read.
“It was discovered that the building had been captured by the LASBCA District Office and served with all Statutory Notices, Sealed at District and Central Enforcement Level.
“Further investigation determined that the developer had continued clandestine operations mostly at night and at the weekends.”
One person has been confirmed dead, while two people have been rescued although the search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The incident happened two weeks after a three-storey building collapsed killing eight residents and leaving many injured at Ebute-Metta.
