Lagos Attorney-General Clarifies Baba Ijesha’s Prison Release Was Not Acquittal Of Convictions From 2021 Case

 

Reports circulating online claiming that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was acquitted of all charges have been strongly refuted by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro. The clarification comes in response to assertions made by actor Yomi Fabiyi, who claimed that the Court of Appeal dismissed Baba Ijesha’s sexual abuse case, suggesting that the actor had been exonerated.

Speaking to journalists, Pedro described these claims as misleading and a misrepresentation of the judicial process. According to him, the narrative circulating in various media outlets is false, irresponsible, and capable of seriously misleading the public regarding the outcome of the high-profile case.

The Attorney-General emphasized that Baba Ijesha’s release from prison was strictly due to the completion of his full sentence, and not because he was discharged or acquitted. “No such clearance occurred at any stage of the judicial process,” Pedro stated, making it clear that the convictions related to sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child remain intact.

Baba Ijesha was convicted by the Lagos State High Court on July 14, 2022, for sexually assaulting a minor and committing indecent treatment against a child in incidents that occurred in 2021. He was sentenced to five years for sexual assault and three years for indecent treatment, with the sentences set to run concurrently.

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, while addressing separate allegations from 2013 to 2014 on June 28, 2024, set aside convictions from those earlier cases but explicitly upheld the 2021 sexual assault conviction and sentence. Subsequent legal attempts to challenge this ruling were unsuccessful. The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal on May 29, 2025, citing incompetence, and a subsequent motion seeking leave to file a fresh appeal was denied on October 9, 2025. These judicial outcomes effectively cemented the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the 2021 convictions.

Pedro also addressed the public, urging Lagos residents and media platforms to disregard the misinformation being circulated. He warned Fabiyi and others amplifying false narratives to cease immediately. The Attorney-General reminded that publishing false news with the intent to incite fear or alarm constitutes a criminal offence under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law, and legal action would be taken if such activities continue.

Reiterating the government’s stance, Pedro stressed that Lagos State remains committed to protecting children, upholding criminal convictions, and ensuring judicial decisions are accurately represented in the public sphere. The clarification aims to prevent the spread of falsehoods that could undermine public trust in the justice system while maintaining the integrity of ongoing child protection initiatives.