Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has reportedly walked out of prison after the Court of Appeal overturned the judgment that had kept him incarcerated for the sexual assault of a minor.
The actor’s ordeal began in 2021, culminating in a July 2022 ruling by the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, which sentenced him to 16 years for offences linked to the molestation of a 14-year-old girl.
Fresh clips shared across Facebook, Instagram and X on Saturday showed a man resembling the comedian sitting inside a car shortly after his release. In the video, he appeared relieved and mentioned that he wanted to rest. Though the footage has been widely circulated, it has yet to be independently confirmed.
During a brief phone call recorded in the clip, he said in Yoruba, “Apase, I’m out… I just came out. I want to relax. I just want to leave here so I decided to inform you. Thank you for supporting me. I will call you.”
His friend and fellow actor, Yomi Fabiyi, also took to Instagram on Friday to share news of the Appeal Court’s decision. He described the ruling as one that finally shed light on what he called a mishandled case. According to him, the development “clears” Baba Ijesha and reinforces the need for caution when addressing allegations involving minors.
Fabiyi added that despite celebrating the judgment, his stance on abuse remains unchanged, noting that he opposes all forms of sexual violence and will continue advocating for due process and the protection of fundamental rights.
