Lagos AG Exposes False Claims on Baba Ijesha: “No Court Cleared Him”
The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, has firmly dismissed widespread reports claiming that embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was cleared by the Court of Appeal.
Pedro described the claims—circulating across social media and amplified by actor Yomi Fabiyi—as “false, misleading and irresponsible,” warning that such distortions threaten public trust in the justice system.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday in Lagos, the Attorney-General said his office was disturbed by a viral post authored by Fabiyi and reproduced by an online platform, alleging that the Court of Appeal had exonerated Baba Ijesha of all allegations, including sexual offences against a minor.
Pedro stressed that the claim was a complete misrepresentation of the court’s decision.
He explained that contrary to the misleading reports, the Lagos High Court had on July 14, 2022, convicted Baba Ijesha for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child over incidents that occurred in 2021—offences for which he was sentenced to five and three years respectively, to run concurrently.
While the Court of Appeal, on June 28, 2024, set aside convictions relating to alleged offences from 2013–2014, Pedro clarified that it upheld the conviction and sentence on the 2021 sexual assault charges.
The Attorney-General further revealed that Baba Ijesha took his case to the Supreme Court, but the apex court struck out his appeal on May 29, 2025, describing it as incompetent. A subsequent request to file a fresh appeal was also dismissed on October 9, 2025.
Pedro emphasized that Baba Ijesha’s recent release was solely due to the completion of his jail term as affirmed by the Court of Appeal—not because he was discharged or acquitted.
“Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared of the offences of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child,” he stated, warning that Fabiyi’s claims were not only false but capable of creating unnecessary fear and confusion among the public.
He advised Lagos residents to disregard the misinformation and cautioned Fabiyi, alongside any platform promoting the false claim, to desist. Pedro added that the Office of the Attorney-General would not hesitate to initiate criminal proceedings for the publication of false news intended to cause fear or alarm—an offence under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law—should the falsehood continue to circulate.