Baba Ijesha completed jail term, not acquitted – Lagos

Ebun Emmanuel – November 16, 2025

The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, has dismissed claims that actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was released following an acquittal by the Court of Appeal

Describing the reports as “false, misleading and irresponsible,” Pedro said his office was alarmed after actor Yomi Fabiyi posted online that the appellate court had cleared Baba Ijesha of all charges, including sexual offences involving a minor—a claim later repeated by an online platform.

Pedro clarified that the statements misrepresented court records and could mislead the public. “No such clearance occurred at any stage of the judicial process,” he emphasized.

He outlined the case history, noting that on July 14, 2022, the Lagos High Court convicted Baba Ijesha of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child for incidents that occurred in 2021, sentencing him to five and three years, to run concurrently.

“On June 28, 2024, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, delivered judgment on his appeal. While the court set aside convictions relating to alleged offences from 2013–2014, it upheld the conviction and sentence for the 2021 sexual assault charges,” Pedro explained.

He added that Baba Ijesha’s further appeal to the Supreme Court was struck out on May 29, 2025, for incompetence, and a motion to file a fresh appeal was dismissed on October 9, 2025, leaving the Appeal Court judgment intact.

Pedro stressed that Baba Ijesha’s release was due to completion of his jail term, not exoneration. “Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared,” he said.

The Attorney-General warned Fabiyi and any platform spreading the false narrative to desist, noting that the state could pursue criminal proceedings under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law for publication of false news.