The Lagos State Government has dismissed circulating claims that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was released from prison because he was cleared of sexual offences charges by the Court of Appeal.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), issued the clarification on Sunday, describing the claims as “false, misleading and irresponsible.”
Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi, had on Friday alleged on his Instagram post that Baba Ijesha regained freedom after being exonerated by the Appeal Court.
Fabiyi further claimed the court cleared the actor of ever sexually assaulting a minor, calling the case “a charade.”
Pedro explained that the clarification became necessary following Fabiyi’s claims that the Court of Appeal “cleared” the convict of ever defiling a minor and that the entire case was a “charade.”
He said the public must disregard those claims, stressing that Baba Ijesha was released only because he had completed the prison term affirmed by the Court of Appeal.
The Attorney General recalled that the High Court of Lagos State convicted the actor on July 14, 2022, for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child in an incident that occurred in 2021, sentencing him to five years and three years, respectively, to run concurrently.
Baba Ijesha challenged the conviction at the Court of Appeal.
In its judgment delivered on June 28, 2024, the appellate court set aside only the counts relating to alleged offences committed between 2013 and 2014 but upheld his conviction and sentence for the offences committed in 2021.
Pedro noted that the actor’s further appeal to the Supreme Court was filed as Appeal No. SC/CR/757/2024—was struck out on 29 May 2025 for incompetence.
A subsequent application for leave to file a fresh appeal (SC.ML/333/2025) was also dismissed by the apex court on October 9, 2025, leaving the Court of Appeal’s decision intact.
“Mr. Olanrewaju James’s release was not as a result of the Appeal Court overturning his conviction or sentence,” Pedro said.
“He was released solely because he had fully served the punishment affirmed by the Court of Appeal. He was not cleared of the offences of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child,” Pedro said.
The Attorney General warned Fabiyi and any media platform spreading the false information to desist or risk criminal prosecution for publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public, contrary to Section 39 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
He urged the public to ignore the misinformation, reaffirming that the state remains committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting child victims of sexual abuse. (Punch)
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