BABA IJESHA REGAINS FREEDOM AFTER FIVE YEARS IN PRISON
Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has been released from prison after serving five years on sexual assault charges that shook Nigeria’s entertainment industry and dominated public discourse for years.
According to credible reports on Friday, the comic actor regained his freedom from the Lagos Correctional Centre, marking the end of a sentence handed down in 2022 by a Special Offences Court in Ikeja.
Baba Ijesha was convicted on multiple counts related to the molestation of a 14-year-old foster daughter of comedienne Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess. The case triggered widespread outrage and became one of the most followed criminal trials involving a Nollywood figure.
His release comes after the Appeal Court in June 2024 upheld the five-year maximum sentence, ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
However, questions linger as the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has yet to issue an official statement confirming whether Baba Ijesha completed his full term, benefited from remission, or was freed under a special arrangement.
News of his release has sparked a fresh wave of reactions across social media, with many Nigerians revisiting the emotional and legal controversies that trailed the case from its inception. Supporters of Princess have expressed renewed concerns about justice for minors, while some observers argue that the legal process has run its course.
The development is expected to reignite conversations on child protection, celebrity accountability, and the criminal justice system’s handling of sexual assault cases.
As the public awaits official clarification from correctional authorities, Baba Ijesha’s return to society remains one of the most talked-about developments in Nollywood this year.