Lagos State has dismissed claims that Baba Ijesha was cleared of offences involving a minor.
Officials say misleading reports ignore court records that upheld his conviction and confirmed his sentence.
Newskobo.com earlier reported that actor Baba Ijesha has regained his freedom after spending more than three years in prison.
The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, has refuted reports suggesting that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, widely known as Baba Ijesha, was acquitted of offences involving a minor. Pedro addressed journalists on Sunday in Lagos, describing the circulating claims as false, misleading and capable of confusing the public about the true legal outcome of the case.
He condemned the reports, especially a social media post by actor Yomi Fabiyi which was later reproduced by an online platform. The post claimed that Baba Ijesha had been exonerated and that the case against him lacked credibility. Pedro said such claims were completely untrue and do not reflect the official court record.
The Attorney General stated clearly that no part of the judicial process ever cleared Baba Ijesha of wrongdoing. He then outlined the legal history of the case to correct public misinformation. According to him, the Lagos State High Court on July 14, 2022 convicted the actor of s+xual assa¥lt and the indecent treatment of a child in relation to events that happened in 2021. He was sentenced to five years and three years for the offences and the sentences were to run at the same time.
Pedro explained that the Court of Appeal in Lagos on June 28, 2024 set aside only the convictions connected to allegations from 2013 and 2014. However, the court upheld the 2021 conviction and confirmed the sentence. A later attempt to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court was struck out on May 29, 2025 because the appeal was filed improperly. A final request for permission to bring a fresh appeal was also dismissed on October 9, 2025 which meant the appeal court’s decision remained in force.
He clarified that Baba Ijesha regained his freedom simply because he had completed his sentence, not because he was found innocent. Pedro stressed that the actor was not cleared of s+xual as+a¥lt or the indecent treatment of a child.
He ended by stating that the Lagos State Government remains committed to protecting children, maintaining valid convictions and ensuring that information about court decisions is reported correctly.
