Actress Biola Adebayo has apologised publicly following criticism over her interview with Baba Ijesha.
In a video message on Instagram on Tuesday, Biola explained her intentions, saying, “Hello everyone, good day to you all. This is an apology video to everyone that feels offended. I’m so sorry. I apologize. What happened was, when Baba just came back from prison, he told me he was back, and I asked him if he wanted to do an interview to apologize, to clear the air so he could continue his life.
“She said no, he wasn’t ready. I didn’t ask him again until he called me last week to say he was now ready for an interview and wanted to come to me first. I said, ‘Oh, thank you for the honor. No problem, sir.’”
She clarified her role, adding, “I thought I was just an interviewer. My role is to interview him, hear what he has to say. I thought he would apologize, but he did not. It is not in my place to condemn or judge him because I know the masses will do that.”
Addressing concerns that the interview might be seen as defending Baba Ijesha, Biola stressed, “I would never enable anybody. The interview was not to exonerate Baba Ijesha or to agree with whatever he was saying. I do not support him at all. I just felt that the platform is for everybody, and it’s okay for him to also say his side of the story and apologize. But since he did not, I cannot insist what he should say.”
Reflecting on her personal experience, she said, “I am a mother. I am a Christian. I am also a rape victim that it took me a while to get over. Yes, it took me time, a lot of prayers, a lot of confession. I would never in this life or the next life enable a pedophile or a rapist.”
Biola removed the interview from her YouTube channel and restricted access on Instagram, apologising to fans, colleagues, and the public: “To everyone that feels hurt or offended, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. I am learning from this, and I will be more careful in the future.”
She also apologised to Iyabo Ojo, saying, “I APOLOGISE TO EVERYONE, I AM VERY SORRY. PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I will never support a rapist nor a pedophile, NEVER! @iyaboojofepris I am so sorry about everything. Thank you to everyone that has been standing by me and thank you all for your comments too. All is well.”
Baba Ijesha, whose real name is Olanrewaju Omiyinka, was convicted in 2022 for sexual assault involving a minor and sentenced to prison.
