Nollywood actor, Olarenwaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has been reportedly released from prison following the Court of Appeal judgment that overturned his conviction for the sexual assault of a minor.
The actor was said to have been detained in 2021. In July 2022, the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja convicted him of multiple counts of assaulting a 14-year-old girl and gave him a sentence of 16 years in prison.
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An unverified but widely circulated video obtained by our correspondent on Saturday showed the comic actor sitting in a vehicle shortly after his release, expressing relief and saying he needed rest.
The video was posted by several accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X ( Formerly Twitter)
Although IG Keys Blog has not been able to independently verify the clip, the man seen celebrating his release appeared to be the actor.
In a brief phone conversation captured in the clip, he was heard saying in Yoruba, ”Apase, I’m out… I just came out.
"I want to unwind. I just want to leave here so I decided to inform you. I appreciate your support. I will call you,” Baba Ijesha said.
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| A screenshot of Fabiyi’s post…Credit: Instagram | Yomi Fabiyi |
In a Friday Instagram post, the Nollywood actor and his friend Yomi Fabiyi also announced the alleged judgment of the Appeal Court, claiming that the ruling had clarified what he described as a mishandled case. Fabiyi said the decision “clears” the actor and urged the public and authorities to handle sensitive allegations with care.
“He is not just back but better,” Fabiyi wrote, adding that the lengthy legal battle underscored the need for “fairness, due process and protection of rights in all cases involving minors.”
He also maintained that as a human rights advocate, he stands against all forms of abuse.
“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 stated.