Nollywood actor Olarenwaju James, known widely as Baba Ijesha, is reportedly out of prison after an Appeal Court judgment nullified his conviction for sexually assaulting a minor.
The actor had been arrested in 2021 and later handed a 16-year jail term by the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja in July 2022, after being found guilty on several charges linked to the abuse of a 14-year-old girl.
A video circulating across Facebook, Instagram and X on Saturday showed a man believed to be the actor sitting inside a vehicle shortly after regaining freedom. In the clip, he appeared relieved and spoke briefly on the phone, saying in Yoruba, “Apase, I’m out… I just came out. I want to relax. I just want to leave here so I decided to inform you. Thank you for supporting me. I will call you.”
His colleague and friend, actor Yomi Fabiyi, also announced the development on Instagram on Friday, claiming the appellate court decision had shed fresh light on what he described as a poorly handled case.
Fabiyi said the ruling “clears” Baba Ijesha and urged both the public and authorities to show restraint and fairness when dealing with sensitive allegations.
“He is not just back but better,” he wrote, stressing that the years-long legal process highlighted the importance of “fairness, due process and protection of rights in all cases involving minors.”
Fabiyi further maintained that his advocacy stance remains unchanged. “We never and will never condone or support any form of sexual abuse, let alone on children or minors. We will continue to advocate for justice and protection of fundamental human rights,” he added.
