LAGOS: Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has been released from prison after serving more than three years following his conviction for sexually assaulting a minor.
His release was confirmed by fellow actor Yomi Fabiyi, who disclosed that Baba Ijesha had completed all legal processes mandated for his freedom.
According to Fabiyi, the Court of Appeal set aside parts of the initial judgment delivered by the Lagos State High Court, which had sentenced the actor to 16 years’ imprisonment in July 2022.
Fabiyi further announced that the appellate court cleared the actor of charges related to defilement, adding that the ruling exposed what he described as inconsistencies and misconduct in the original case.
He alleged that discrepancies regarding the victim’s age, questionable handling of evidence, and actions by individuals involved in the investigation contributed to what he termed selective justice.
In a lengthy statement, Fabiyi accused certain parties of falsifying the victim’s age and manipulating the case to target Baba Ijesha.
He also raised concerns about alleged negligence and inappropriate actions surrounding the recorded evidence that went viral during the investigation.
According to him, some of those initially arrested over the matter were eventually released without thorough scrutiny, despite their alleged involvement with the victim.
Fabiyi maintained that his human rights organization does not condone any form of sexual abuse but insisted that the actor’s case exemplified how public sentiment and personal vendettas can overshadow due process.
Baba Ijesha’s release has since sparked renewed public debate, reopening conversations around child protection, legal fairness, and the conduct of parties involved in high-profile abuse cases in Nigeria.
