Embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James popularly known as Baba Ijesa, has denied engaging the former Chairman of Ikeja Branch of Nigerian Bar Association, Adeshina Ogunlana, as his lawyer.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the actor through his lawyer, Kayode Olabisan, released a disclaimer on Saturday stating that he never briefed Ogunlana to be his legal representative.
“I wish to state categorically and emphatically that I have never briefed the lawyer nor instructed him to act on my behalf in any way, or manner howsoever and whatsoever.
“He (Ogunlana) is not my lawyer, and whatever you heard or hear from him concerning my lawyers, the police or court case, does not represent the true position.
“He has been acting without my knowledge or consent,” he said.
The disclaimer also stated that the police never demanded for money from the actor for the bail, which was granted him by a magistrate on health grounds.
“This is aside the N500,000 refundable bail bond which formed part of my bail conditions ordered by the court.
“The bail bond is payable to the court registry’s account and not police account,” the disclaimer read.
Olabiran also stated that Baba Ijesa was granted bail on May 17, by a team from Lagos State Judiciary, Nigerian Bar Association and the state Ministry of Justice.
The team had visited the State Criminal Investigation Department Panti, Yaba, Lagos, in an effort to decongest police stations across Lagos State.
“He is not out of police custody, we are hoping that the judiciary, the team from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution will come again to Panti next week.
“It is one thing to be granted bail and another for your release to be ordered upon meeting all the conditions.
It would be recalled however that Ogunlana told the Punch in an interview that he merely volunteered to ‘represent’ the actor when he visited Panti and saw his ‘pitiable condition’.
