Actor Olanrewaju James, known by his stage name Baba Ijesha, has completed one year of his 16-year sentence at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State.
Baba Ijesha was convicted and sentenced on July 14, 2022, for four of the six charges levelled against him, including indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.
The actor was first arrested on April 22, 2021, and later appeared before Magistrate P. E. Nwaka of the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos on July 16, 2021.
Subsequently, he was charged in the Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, where Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo delivered the final judgment.
Justice Taiwo found him guilty on four of the six counts, saying, “The defendant is hereby sentenced to five years imprisonment for count two, three years for count three, five years for count four, and three years for count five.”
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The case generated a lot of controversy and also caused division among some celebrities in the entertainment industry.
While some celebrities supported comedian Princess Adekoya whose ward was the one defiled, some others empathised with Baba Ijesha.
Among those who supported Baba Ijesha were Yomi Fabiyi, Bukky Black, and Lege Miami. Yomi claimed that the actor was ‘ambushed’ into the crime.
On the other hand, actresses Iyabo Ojo and Nkechi Blessing were among the strong supporters of Princess.
In September 2022, the Ikeja Special Offences Court refused the bail application filed by Baba Ijesha.
Justice Taiwo rejected it on the ground that he did not meet exceptional circumstances and criteria to warrant the bail.
