Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, has debunked claims that actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was released following an acquittal by the Court of Appeal.
Pedro described the reports as “false, misleading and irresponsible,” saying the misinformation began after actor Yomi Fabiyi posted that the appellate court had cleared Baba Ijesha of all charges, including sexual offences involving a minor. The claim was later amplified by an online platform.
“No such clearance occurred at any stage of the judicial process,” Pedro emphasized, noting that the statements misrepresented court records and could mislead the public.
He provided a summary of the case, stating that on July 14, 2022, the Lagos High Court convicted Baba Ijesha of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child over incidents that occurred in 2021, sentencing him to five and three years, to run concurrently.
“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 explained.
He added that Baba Ijesha’s appeal to the Supreme Court was struck out on May 29, 2025, and a motion to file a fresh appeal was dismissed on October 9, 2025, leaving the Appeal Court judgment intact.
Pedro clarified that Baba Ijesha’s release was simply due to the completion of his jail term. “Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared,” he said.
The Attorney-General warned Fabiyi and other platforms spreading the false claims to stop, adding that the state may pursue criminal action under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law for publishing false news.
