Baba Ijesha: Appeal Court upholds 5-year jail term

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division has affirmed the conviction and five-year sentence of Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old minor.
The lead judgment, delivered by Justice Folashade Ojo on Friday, came after Baba Ijesha appealed his initial conviction by a Lagos State High Court. Also, Justices Abdullahi Bayero and Paul Bassi, who are members of the three-man panel, aligned themselves with the lead judgment.
While the appellate court overturned some of the charges, it upheld the actor’s guilt on two counts: indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault.
The court found that the prosecution had presented compelling evidence, including Baba Ijesha’s own confessions, to prove that he had indecently touched and sexually assaulted the young victim on April 19, 2021.
“The interaction between the victim and the appellant on the 19th April, 2021 was not a theatrical performance or make-believe but a personal encounter between the two of them,” Justice Ojo stated in the judgment.
The incident had sparked public outrage when it first came to light, with many calling for the strictest possible punishment for the disgraced actor.
The Lagos State Government had initially charged Baba Ijesha on six counts, bordering on indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.
The trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd) of Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, had on July 14, 2022, sentenced Baba Ijesha to five-year jail term over the two offences, which were to run concurrently.
Baba Ijesha, who was dissatisfied with the judgment of the lower court, had approached the Court of Appeal to upturn the judgment.