Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, widely known by his stage name Baba Ijesha, has officially confirmed his release from custody in a newly circulated video that emerged on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The video confirmation came just hours after his colleague and fellow actor Yomi Fabiyi announced the development on social media platforms.
The Freedom Announcement
In the brief video clip that quickly went viral across social media platforms, Baba Ijesha appears seated inside a vehicle while having a short telephone conversation in Yoruba language. The actor could be heard clearly stating, "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."
The visual confirmation from the actor himself followed an earlier Instagram post made by Yomi Fabiyi on Friday evening, where he enthusiastically celebrated what he described as a significant moment for the embattled actor. Fabiyi, who has been a vocal supporter throughout the lengthy legal proceedings, shared the news with his followers in a detailed post.
Yomi Fabiyi's Reaction and Stance
Fabiyi's social media announcement carried a tone of triumph and relief as he wrote, "You are now officially free and out. Baba Ijesha is not just back but better." The actor-director expressed his satisfaction with the appeal court's decision while simultaneously clarifying his position on the sensitive matter of child abuse.
In his statement, Fabiyi emphasized, "I am also happy you were cleared by the APPEAL COURT of ever having sex/defile any child/minor. The 7-year-old story is a charade. We live in a terrible world, where sentiments and wickedness rise above the rule of law and truth."
He further strengthened his position by stating, "We never and will never condone or support any form of sexual abuse, let alone on children or minors," while also making several allegations regarding the original case and individuals involved in the proceedings.
Public Reaction and Case Background
The news of Baba Ijesha's release sparked immediate and diverse reactions across Nigerian social media platforms. Many users shared the circulating video while expressing mixed opinions about the development.
One Twitter user, Queen Ezekiel Joshua, questioned the brevity of the sentence with the comment: "So short. Wasn't he sent to prison because of grape? grape should come with life sentence."
Another user highlighted societal contradictions, noting: "The hypocrisy amongst Nigerians is alarming. I read a comment under this post of someone who supported Tinubu's clemency for criminals asking why Baba Ijesa is out!"
Some comments focused on the challenges the actor might face reintegrating into society and his professional life. One user observed: "Sometimes make person die sef better Dan dis, e no go fit waka freely fór society again, dem go use the face look am forever ni. The hardest past bè say dose em colleague fit nó give am role again fór film industry, and that's where depressions sets in."
The case originally gained national attention in 2021 when Baba Ijesha was arrested over allegations involving the assault of a minor. His subsequent trial, conviction, and legal appeals became one of the most closely followed entertainment sector cases in recent Nigerian history, drawing significant media coverage and public debate.
As of the time of reporting, Baba Ijesha has not issued any formal statement beyond the brief words captured in the circulating video clip. The actor indicated his intention to rest and recover from the ordeal, promising to reach out to his supporters at a later time.
