Abike Dabiri, the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has slammed Baba Ijesha, the Yoruba actor who admitted to molesting a 14-year-old girl.
Social media has been awash with criticism as public figures kicked against any likelihood of the suspect’s action.
In a tweet on Thursday, Dabiri dismissed Baba Ijesha’s plea for mercy as portrayed in a now-viral video where he confessed to the crime.
She also pointed out that the case would earn him no less than 14 years imprisonment.
“So despicable! The act by Yoruba actor, Baba Ijesha, who defied a girl, at 7 years and later at 14 years! Who knows how many the pedophile could have damaged if he wasn’t caught,” Dabiri wrote.
“I sponsored the violence against person’s law. The penalty is nothing less than 14 years in prison. His plea begging on some video I watched should not be acceptable.
“We should all do all we can to support the girl’s foster mother, Princess, to ensure this case goes to court and fully tried, and maximum sentence passed on him.”
Iyabo Ojo and Comedian Princess, the victim’s foster mother, had earlier protested the alleged plan to release Baba Ijesha from police custody on Friday.
In his confession, the suspect had said: “Please, I don’t really know what happened to me but I’m begging you. What’s is happening to me is more than being drunk. Please forgive me. I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.”