Actress and podcaster Biola Adebayo is facing heavy criticism on social media following her recent interview with convicted actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, on her show, Talk To B.
During the interview, which has since gone viral, Baba Ijesha claimed the incident leading to his conviction was a “setup” and argued that he was misunderstood. He suggested that portions of the 2021 incident were related to “movie preparation,” a claim that has sparked widespread outrage online.
The actor also spoke about his past relationship with actress Iyabo Ojo, stating she once entrusted him with the care of her children, Festus and Priscilla, when they were younger.
Iyabo Ojo has since disputed this claim. She warned the actor against involving her children in his narrative and threatened legal action if he continues to mention them.
Many users on X (formerly Twitter) condemned the decision to give the convicted actor a platform.
A user, tolu_fakoya, wrote: “There is nowhere in the world and no one in their right senses and mind should be granting a child rapist any interview. No one. Biola Adebayo is appalling.”
Fortwin___ commented: “They need to rearrest Baba Ijesha then Biola Adebayo. Because you must be mad to be caught on camera molesting a child, go to jail for it and come outside to say they lied on your head or it’s AI. They should throw him back to jail. People like this should not be given any platform at all.”
Oluwatobinihami noted: “If it was this year or last year they arrested that man, so many people would say the CCTV footage was generated by AI. That man is just too confident because people are still giving him a platform.”
Criticising the host’s decision, TheChibuogwu said: “Biola Adebayo really messed up. Ruining her goodwill for some clicks and views? She definitely thought this through and still decided to platform him.”
Thewriterchic added: “Biola Adebayo wants to rewrite history and whitewash a convicted child molester? People like this make us take one step forward, and three steps backward.”
In July 2022, a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja convicted Baba Ijesha for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child. He was sentenced to five years and three years’ imprisonment, to run concurrently.
Following his release and the subsequent controversy, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice clarified that the actor was not acquitted. The attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Lawal Pedro, explained that while the Court of Appeal set aside some earlier allegations, it upheld the conviction and sentence related to the 2021 case.
Under the Lagos State Child Rights Law and the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, the offences for which he was convicted remain on his criminal record.
