The first defence witness in the trial of Nollywood star, Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha, charged with defilement, on Thursday, claimed that portions of the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) video footage on the allegation, were edited.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the witness, Mr Lawrence Ayeni, likewise testified prior to an Ikeja Special Offences Court that the actor and the minor he supposedly defiled were both acting out a script in the footage.

Ayeni, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering, stated that he was experienced in video production and CCTV installation and maintenance.

Led in evidence by co-lead defence counsel, Mr Babatunde Ogala (SAN), the witness informed the court that a person of the CCTV recordings of the supposed encounter had been damaged at the point of modifying.

During his statement, 4 videos were used a projector in the courtroom.

One of the videos showed the accused and the 14-year-old in the home of her foster mother, comedienne Damilola Adekoya alias Princess.

The CCTV video was taped in April 2021, shortly prior to the accused’s arrest.

In the video footage, the offender and the minor were resting on a sofa for a while, then they went out of view.

When they returned, the accused used her a cup to consume from, kissed her hand and drew her near him. They were speaking but their voices could not be heard.

The witness said: “The CCTV has no audio since it was a fibre camera that was used.

“The voices you heard are of the persons who recorded the encounter, directing the script, and later on modified the recording.

“Baba Ijesha is acting what the director asked him to. The lady often takes a look at the video camera so she was acting out what she was informed to.

“At the point of copying the material into a computer, mistakes could have been inputted or it got tampered with.”

The other videos revealed the accused advocating forgiveness from Princess when she accosted him.

Another video footage showed his arrest.

The last footage revealed his statement being taken while he remained in cops custody.

Under cross-examination by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, the witness confessed that CCTV video footage could not be manipulated at the time of recording.

Ayeni submitted that speculations of tampering with the recording or using numerous gadgets to tape could not alter the contents or what was stated in the video footage.

The offender is dealing with a six-count charge bordering on indecent treatment of a kid, sexual assault, tried sexual attack by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned procedures till March 4 for extension of defence.