Appeal court affirms Baba Ijesha’s sexual assault conviction

The court of appeal in Lagos has affirmed the ruling of the state high court, sentencing Olanrewaju ‘Baba Ijesha‘ James, the Nollywood actor, to five years in prison for sexual assault.

Baba Ijesha was arraigned on June 24, 2021, on a six-count charge of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.

On July 14, 2022, a Lagos high court sentenced the actor to 16 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor.

His 16-year jail term is expected to run concurrently.

This means that the movie actor will spend five years behind bars.

Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the presiding judge, convicted and sentenced the actor after he was found guilty of four counts out of six.

In April 2024, Baba Ijesha challenged his jail term through Kayode Olabiran, his legal counsel.

Olabiran told the appeal court that his client was set up and was merely “acting according to a script” provided by a colleague.

He also claimed that the actor gave his confessional statement “under duress”.

The counsel argued that Baba Ijesha’s conviction was “done in error” and urged the court to set it aside.

But on Thursday, Folashade Ojo, the appeal court judge, affirmed the conviction of Baba Ijesha on two counts bordering on “indecent touching and sexual assault of a 14-year-old minor”.

Abdullahi Bayero and Paul Bassi, the other judges at the court, aligned with Ojo’s ruling.

Ojo, however, dismissed the conviction of Baba Ijesha for “indecent treatment and sexual assault”.

The judge stated that the testimony of Damilola Adekoya, the first prosecution’s witness, was “unreliable”.