March 12, (THEWILL) – Doctor Olukayode Olugbemi, a psychologist, on Friday stated that the 14-year-old minor, whom James Olanrewaju Omiyinka, also known as Baba Ijesha, allegedly defiled appeared to have been tutored in her narration of what happened.
The doctor also stated that “something was wrong” with the footage of an interview conducted by a child right expert and prosecution witness, Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode.
He said this while testifying as the third defence witness at an Ikeja Special Offense Court, Lagos, and was led in evidence by defence counsel, Dada Awosika(San).
The witness, an expert in clinical psychology said, “There is something wrong with the narration. I think this looks like a story that someone has relayed to her to repeat.”
“There seems to be a divertion from the narration played out. There is something called Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Invention in Psychology.”
“This invention will let one know if a child is lying or not.”
When questioning the witness further, Awosika asked if in his profession as a psychologist, it was normal for the narrator (the minor) to go back to the defendant after they had gone to clean themselves up, as claimed by her in the footage.
Olugbemi replied that it was not normal, as children run to their ‘safe place’, as they face post traumatic stress disorder.
“When something like a rape or abuse happens, it is supposed to cause a trauma. It is called PTSD. The child moves away from the person and does not go back again.”
The defence counsel then asked, “You saw from the footage that the interviewer brought out two dolls and gave the interviewee to describe the position of the defendant and herself in the sitting room.”
“Is that normal in your profession?”
“It is not normal, there is something called suggestibility. When you talk about PTSD, you intentionally block our memories of the event.”
Under cross examination by the Lagos State Public Prosecutor, Dr Babajide Martins, the witness, who admitted this is the first time giving evidence in court, noted that he could not be absolutely certain the event happened.
Martin asked the witness if he could have been more effective, if he had met the minor in person and he replied in the affirmative.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case to April 1 for continuation of the trial.
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