Baba Ijesa Was Never Cleared of Sexual Assault by Appeal Court, He Served Full Prison Term- Lagos Attorney-General
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, has clarified that Nollywood actor, Olarenwaju James Omiyinka popularly known as Baba Ijesa was released after completing his jail term for sexual assault on a minor.
The position of the Lagos Attorney General follows erronous reports in some quarters insinuating that Baba Ijesa was cleared by the Court of Appeal.
Mr. Pedro described the claims as “false, misleading and irresponsible.”
In an interaction with journalists in Lagos on Sunday, Pedro said his office was alarmed by a social media post by actor Yomi Fabiyi, which alleged that Baba Ijesha had been exonerated of all charges, including sexual offences involving a minor.
The Attorney General described the report as a “complete distortion of the judicial record and capable of misleading the public.”
Pedro recalled that the High Court of Lagos State, on July 14, 2022, convicted Baba Ijesha for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child over incidents in 2021, sentencing him to five years and three years respectively, to run concurrently.
He said that “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 said Baba Ijesha pursued a Supreme Court appeal, which was struck out on May 29, 2025, for incompetence.
He said a subsequent motion for leave to file a fresh appeal was dismissed on October 9, 2025, leaving the Court of Appeal judgment fully intact.
According to him, “Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared of the offences of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child.”
He therefore, urged Lagos residents and the general to disregard the circulating reports and cautioned Fabiyi and platforms amplifying the falsehood to desist immediately.
He also noted that the Office of the Attorney-General “will not hesitate to initiate criminal proceedings for publication of false news with intent to cause fear or alarm, an offence under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law.”
FACTSHEET reported that the convicted actor regained his freedom from the Nigeria Correctional Service, Lagos on Saturday.
