The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, has debunked reports claiming that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, known as Baba Ijesha, was freed after being cleared by the Court of Appeal, describing the circulating narrative as “false, misleading and irresponsible.”
According Pedron while speaking to the journalists, said his office was alarmed by a social media post authored by actor Yomi Fabiyi and later reproduced in an online publication, which alleged that the appellate court had exonerated Baba Ijesha of all charges, including sexual offences involving a minor.
He stressed that such statements were a complete distortion of the judicial record and capable of misleading the public.
Pedro explained that the clarification became necessary following Fabiyi’s claims that the Court of Appeal “cleared” the convict of ever defiling a minor and that the entire case was a “charade.”
The Attorney General recalled that the High Court of Lagos State convicted the actor on July 14, 2022, for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child in an incident that occurred in 2021, sentencing him to five years and three years, respectively, to run concurrently.
He said: “On June 28, 2024, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, delivered judgment on his appeal. While the court set aside convictions relating to alleged offences from 2013–2014, it upheld the conviction and sentence for the 2021 sexual assault charges.”
Pedro noted that Baba Ijesha pursued a further appeal to the Supreme Court, but the apex court struck out the appeal on May 29, 2025, on grounds of incompetence.
A subsequent motion for leave to file a fresh appeal was dismissed on October 9, 2025, thereby leaving the Court of Appeal judgment fully intact.
Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared of the offences of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child,” Pedro stated, warning that Fabiyi’s assertions were wholly untrue and capable of alarming the public.
He urged Lagos residents and the wider public to disregard the circulating claims and cautioned Fabiyi, including any platform amplifying the falsehood, to desist immediately.
The Attorney General warned Fabiyi and any media platform spreading the false information to desist or risk criminal prosecution for publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public, contrary to Section 39 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
He urged the public to ignore the misinformation, reaffirming that the state remains committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting child victims of sexual abuse.