The leadership of the Theater Arts and Motion Picture
Producers Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) have waded into the legal matter
involving Olarenwaju Oyiminka aka Baba Ijesha.
The Board of Trustees (BoT) and Elders of the Nigerian
Motion Picture Industry addressed the media on Saturday over the issue.
Baba Ijesha faces six-count charges bordering on the
indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, sexual assault by penetration,
among others.
But Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Thursday granted him N2 million bail.
In their positions, Adebayo Salami and Jide Kosoko, TAMPAN
BoT Chairman and Secretary condemned the “malicious damages” by “unruly individuals
that lack any iota of discipline and seem to feel to be above the law”.
“We particularly observe the continuous derogatory
statements made by Iyabo Ojo against the association and the industry as a
whole.”
Nothing that they were against all forms of sexual assault,
the communique accused Iyabo Ojo’s of “reckless accusations, abuses and
embarrassment of our sector”.
“If we allow the continuous blackmail to go unchecked, the
current situation will continue to grow to the detriment of humble
practitioners, whose only source of livelihood is the practice of Indigenous
language movies.
“Unfortunately, Nkechi Blessing has also joined in the
Ignoble tirades against the Association and by extension, the industry and we
say enough is enough!
“Without the platform God gave you and many others of your
likes through us to climb up the ladder and express your creativity, you may
not be this visible today.”
The communique noted that an offence against one is an
offence against all, adding that the association will no longer tolerate
“infringements”.
The TAMPAN BoT declared they do not support acts of criminal
behaviour in whatever guise.
“We have stayed away from making comments on the Lanre
Omiyinka (Baba Ijesha) saga because we believe in the rule of law and the
ability of the courts to do justice without being swayed by emotions or
influenced by sympathies.”
On the views of Deji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina,
the elders said his comments were personal.
“The association does not condone immorality. If two
consenting adults decide to have things in common, it does not mean that it is
the standard practice.
“The utterances from the likes of Iyabo Ojo, Nkechi Blessing
and others are regarded as unfortunate words spoken by people who should know
better as they have benefitted immensely from the association and industry.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com