Baba Ijesha Appeals Conviction for Sexual Assault

Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal.

The actor filed the appeal at the Lagos Division, seeking to overturn his conviction by a Lagos State High Court for the sexual assault of a minor.

Baba Ijesha, represented by his counsel Kayode Olabiran, argued that he was set up and merely acted according to a script provided by his colleague, Damilola Adekoya.

Baba Ijesha, through his counsel, Mr Kayode Olabiran, argued that the prosecution could not prove that the convict sexually assaulted the victim.

“The charge itself is centered on the defilement of a minor, but the prosecution couldn’t prove the age of the victim.

“The Appellant was set up. The Appellant is an actor. He acted in a script that he was invited to act by his colleague (PW1), Damilola Adekoya.

“(PW1) Damilola Adekoya asked the Appellant to come and act on a script.

In the statement of PW1, at Panti Police Station, unknowingly to the appellant, there was a CCTV in the sitting room.

“Whatever we watched in that movie was a script by the producer, and the prosecution tendered the video of the scene of the acting.

“Based on his confessional statement, as at the day of the arrest, he was under duress.

“There were so many people who were beating him that was when he confessed to the offence,” he said.

The Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, countered by urging the court to dismiss the appeal.

He asserts that it lacked merit and was based on a misconception.

The actor was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment On July 14, 2022, by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (rtd) of the Lagos Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court.

Read Also: Baba Ijesha bags 16 years imprisonment over sexual assault of minor

The judge convicted and sentenced him after he was found guilty of four out of the six counts, preferred against him by the Lagos State government.

Justice Taiwo found Baba Ijesha guilty of indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault, of a minor between 2013 and 2014.

This is contrary to Section 135 of Lagos State Criminal Law 2015 but exonerated him of the offence of sexual assault by penetration.