Convicted Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, has approached a Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja to grant him post-conviction-bail pending the determination of his appellate suit before the Lagos division of higher court.
The court heard the arguments of both prosecuting and defense counsels on whether the convict has met special circumstances for court to grant him bail
Two months after Justice Taiwo, sentenced James also known as baba ijesha, to serve a five year concurrent jail term, his legal team approached the court to appeal that judgement.
At the hearing, Chukwudi Adiukwu, one of the defense counsels for the convict, says the team brought notice for bail pending appeal in pursuant to section 6 (6) of the 1999 constitution as amended, and 51 of the high court law of Lagos State, administration of criminal justice law, admitting the applicant to bail, either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions.
Highlighting the special circumstances, Adiukwu explains that the application is taken before Justice Taiwo, as getting date at the court of appeal might be difficult, considering the number of cases before the court.
He also stated that with the prison month calendar, the convict would have served his five years concurrent jail term within 3 years and 6 months, before the hearing might take place at the appeal court.
He added that, baba ijesha was of good conduct before the court during his trial, and was never absent till the judgement.
He therefore, urged the court to consider the special circumstances, at granting bail to the convict.
Reacting to this, the state prosecuting counsel, Omowunmi Bajulaye-Bishi says the defense counsels in their address failed to establish the special circumstances which may grant baba bail, therefore, refuses the court to grant bail to the convict.
After the submissions of both counsels,, justice Taiwo adjourned to Monday, September 19, 2022 for rulling on the application of the convict
