‘It is a crime to use a minor as a trap to gather evidence’ – Yomi Fabiyi

Actor, Yomi Fabiyi has continued to defend his senior colleague, Baba Ijesha following the release of CCTV video of when he molested the 14-year-old.

FTN recalls that the victim’s mother, who had been suspecting that her daughter was being sexually abused, installed the CCTV to uncover the perpetrator and while monitoring the situation in her home on her phone, she saw Baba Ijesha allegedly conducting himself in a suspicious manner around her daughter.

Baba Ijesha allegedly took the victim away from the sitting room into the kitchen, where there was no CCTV camera installed, and the mother, who rushed back home upon the discovery, allegedly caught Baba Ijesha defiling her daughter in the kitchen.

The video which was kept private for days has, however, been released by the family of the victim and Yomi Fabiyi has reacted to it.

According to Yomi, the girl was used as a trap to gather evidence and it is a crime because she is a minor who was made to go through the traumatizing situation again.

Taking to Instagram to air his view on the video, Yomi wrote: “IT IS CRIMINAL TO MOLEST A MINOR or USE A MINOR AS A TRAP TO GATHER EVIDENCE. It is disturbing and unfortunate viewing the images of the released CCTV footage of a minor been sexually abused by a senior colleague, Mr Lanre Omiyinka a.k.a Baba Ijesha. There is no excuse for this act. I condemn this act, it is embarrassing and disappointing.

I have carefully wait for reliable options before jumping into conclusion as done in a civilised society, a stance a handful misconstrued as supporting the suspect, it is a shame a handful in Nigeria still engage in social media recklessness in the name of social media age. NO WHERE HAVE I SUPPORTED OR CONDONE SUCH, someone just place the idea and many without caution jumped on it. If you are not enlightened, SEEK KNOWLEDGE.

The only person free from arrest and prosecution is the young lady. Several red lines were crossed, IGNORANCE is never an excuse. The key question every honest person should be asking is, “if the girl was your child, can you make her go through such truama again in the name of gathering evidence? Where are the social services and domestic violence unit in Lagos State? Shelve press release and sentiments, swing into action.

The law is sacrosanct and we all can agree a lot more needs to be done TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN NIGERIA. I am sad, we have failed many innocent children and it is time we rise to this challenge, THE WORLD IS WATCHING. Every Nigerian who honestly feel for the poor girl should take to the street in a peaceful protest, demand arrest of all connected to these ugly images, it is a cause worth risking everything for, do it for humanity and every innocent child.

However, sentiment should never be an excuse to abuse the rights of every suspect or persons connected, that is the only way to achieve peace, fairness, justice and development. Thanks to the Lagos Police Commissioner and officers for their meticulous investigation and efforts so far. A society patient to balance a story seldom get misled or stand with lies. The media are doing a good job too. We want a safer Nigeria for every child. Thank you… Yomi Fabiyi

Actor/Human Rights Ambassador.