Baba Ijesha Released After Serving 4 Years 7 Months for Defiling Princess’ Foster Daughter

Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, better known as Baba Ijesha, has officially regained his freedom after spending 4 years and 7 months behind bars for sexually assaulting a minor.

The actor was released from Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos on November 14, 2025, following a successful appeal that overturned his earlier conviction.

The case, which began in April 2021, remains one of the most controversial and widely debated scandals in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, exposing deep divisions within Nollywood and raising critical questions about child protection, justice, and celebrity accountability.

The incident that led to Baba Ijesha’s arrest occurred at the residence of popular comedian and actress Damilola Adekoya, known as Comedian Princess. The victim, a 14-year-old girl at the time and Princess’ foster daughter, had allegedly been abused by the actor seven years earlier when she was just 7 years old.

Suspicious of his behavior during a visit in 2021, Princess set up a hidden CCTV camera in her home. The footage captured Baba Ijesha fondling and kissing the minor, leading to his immediate arrest by the Lagos State Police Command on April 22, 2021.

The video quickly went viral on social media, triggering nationwide outrage and intense scrutiny of child sexual abuse within celebrity circles. During police interrogation, Baba Ijesha claimed the incident was part of a scripted acting scene and that he was unaware of the camera.

Authorities rejected this defense, and he was charged with multiple offenses, including child defilement, indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault by penetration, and attempted sexual assault. He was initially granted bail in June 2021, but the trial proceeded amid heavy media coverage.

The case was heard at the Lagos State High Court under Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo. The prosecution presented testimonies from the victim, Princess, and forensic experts who analyzed the CCTV footage.

They argued that Baba Ijesha had abused his position of trust as a family friend. On July 14, 2022, the court convicted him on four out of six counts—specifically indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault.

He was acquitted on charges of defilement and sexual assault by penetration due to insufficient evidence regarding the alleged 2014 incident.

Baba Ijesha was sentenced to 16 years in prison, but the terms were set to run concurrently, effectively reducing his sentence to 5 years. Justice Taiwo remarked that the actor had “taken his acting too far” and violated the victim’s trust.

Baba Ijesha appealed the conviction, maintaining his innocence and alleging procedural errors. In June 2024, the Lagos Court of Appeal upheld the 5-year sentence for indecent treatment, but further legal proceedings eventually led to his release.

Fellow actor Yomi Fabiyi, who had been a vocal supporter throughout the ordeal, announced the news on social media, stating that the Appeal Court had cleared Baba Ijesha of all charges. “You are now officially free and out. Baba Ijesha is not just back but better,” Fabiyi wrote, dismissing earlier allegations as a “charade.”

Other colleagues, including Kola Olootu, also confirmed the release, sparking celebrations among some fans.

The case deeply divided Nollywood. Actress Iyabo Ojo and others supported Princess and the victim, leading to public feuds with Fabiyi and actors like Lege Miami, who rallied behind Baba Ijesha.

Child rights organizations, including the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, leveraged the case to advocate for stronger legal protections against abuse.

False reports of Baba Ijesha’s release had circulated as early as June 2025, but these were debunked until the official confirmation in November.

Key figures in the saga include Baba Ijesha himself, known for comedic roles in Yoruba cinema; the victim, whose identity remains protected; Princess, who provided crucial evidence and faced backlash for allegedly “setting up” the actor; Yomi Fabiyi, who organized protests demanding justice for Baba Ijesha; and Iyabo Ojo, who championed the victim’s cause. The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions led the case, with Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo delivering the initial verdict.