Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, widely known as Baba Ijesha, has been released from prison after the Court of Appeal overturned his conviction for the sexual assault of a minor.
The actor’s release on Friday was announced by his colleague, Yomi Fabiyi, in a post on Instagram. The news was further corroborated by an unverified video circulating online on Saturday, which showed the actor in a vehicle shortly after his release, expressing relief.
“Apase, I’m out… I just came out. I want to relax,” Baba Ijesha was heard saying in Yoruba in the brief clip.
Baba Ijesha was initially arrested in 2021 and subsequently sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment in July 2022 by the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. The court had found him guilty on multiple counts of sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl.
The Court of Appeal’s recent judgment has now nullified that conviction. In his social media post, actor Yomi Fabiyi stated that the ruling “clears” Baba Ijesha of the charges, specifically noting that the actor was cleared “of ever having sex/defile any child/minor.”
Fabiyi described the lengthy legal case as a “charade” and used the announcement to advocate for “fairness, due process and protection of rights in all cases involving minors.” He also reiterated his stance against all forms of abuse.
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has not yet issued an official statement regarding the appellate court’s decision or the actor’s release. The details of the Appeal Court’s ruling are awaited to provide clarity on the legal grounds for the overturn.
