The Lagos State Government has moved swiftly to correct widespread misinformation surrounding the release of Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, from prison. The state's Attorney-General has firmly denied claims that the actor was acquitted of sexu@l offences involving a minor.
Official Refutation of False Claims
Following statements made by actor Yomi Fabiyi on Friday, November 14, which alleged that Baba Ijesha had been exonerated by the Court of Appeal, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, addressed journalists on Sunday to set the record straight. Pedro described the circulating narrative as false, misleading, and irresponsible, emphasizing that it completely distorted the judicial record and risked severely misleading the public.
No such clearance occurred at any stage of the judicial process, Pedro stated categorically.
The Facts of the Conviction and Appeal
The Attorney-General provided a detailed timeline of the legal proceedings to clarify the situation. He confirmed that the High Court of Lagos State convicted Baba Ijesha on July 14, 2022, for the crimes of sexu@l assault and indecent treatment of a child. These charges stemmed from incidents that occurred in 2021. The court sentenced him to five years imprisonment for sexu@l assault and three years for indecent treatment, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Pedro explained that while the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on June 28, 2024, set aside convictions related to alleged offences from 2013 to 2014, it unequivocally upheld the conviction and sentence for the 2021 sexu@l assault charges.
The legal process did not end there. The conviction was further solidified after a subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court was first struck out on May 29, 2025, on grounds of incompetence. A final motion for leave to file a fresh appeal was dismissed on October 9, 2025, thereby leaving the Court of Appeal judgment, which affirmed the 2021 conviction, fully intact and legally binding.
Clarification on the Reason for Release
The central point of clarification from the Attorney-General concerns the reason for Baba Ijesha's release from custody. Pedro stressed that the convict's release was strictly because he had completed his full term of imprisonment as affirmed by the Court of Appeal. He was not discharged or acquitted of the crimes.
Mr Olanrewaju James was not cleared of the offences of sexu@l assault and indecent treatment of a child, the AG insisted, urging Lagos residents and the wider public to disregard the false claims being circulated.
Pedro also issued a stern warning to Yomi Fabiyi and any media platform amplifying the falsehood, cautioning them to desist immediately. He stated that his office would not hesitate to initiate criminal proceedings for the publication of false news with intent to cause fear or alarm, an offence under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law, should the misinformation persist.
The Attorney-General concluded by reiterating the state government's unwavering commitment to protecting children, enforcing criminal convictions, and ensuring that judicial outcomes are accurately represented in the public domain.
