Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, has refuted claims suggesting that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was released due to being cleared by the Court of Appeal.
Pedro described such reports as false, misleading, and irresponsible.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Sunday, the Attorney-General addressed a social media post by actor Yomi Fabiyi, who asserted that Baba Ijesha had been absolved of all charges, including the sexual assault of a minor.
Pedro warned that these statements were a “gross distortion of court proceedings and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.” He emphasized that the clarification was necessary following Fabiyi’s claim that the appellate court had declared the actor innocent and dismissed the case as a “charade.”
Outlining the legal timeline, Pedro noted that the Lagos State High Court, on July 14, 2022, found Baba Ijesha guilty of sexually assaulting and indecently treating a child for incidents that occurred in 2021. He was sentenced to five years and three years, respectively, with the sentences running concurrently.
Pedro explained that on June 28, 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled on Baba Ijesha’s appeal against his conviction. While the court overturned charges related to alleged offences from 2013 to 2014, it upheld the conviction and sentence for the 2021 sexual assault case.
He further stated that the actor’s appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed on May 29, 2025, due to incompetence, and a subsequent application to file a fresh appeal was also rejected on October 9, 2025. Consequently, the Court of Appeal’s judgment remains final and enforceable.
The Attorney-General clarified that Baba Ijesha’s release was solely because he had served the prison term confirmed by the appellate court, not because he was acquitted or cleared of wrongdoing.
“Mr. Olanrewaju James was never exonerated of sexual assault or the indecent treatment of a child,” Pedro affirmed, describing Fabiyi’s claims as unfounded and potentially alarming to the public.
He urged people to ignore the misleading reports and cautioned Fabiyi and media outlets sharing such information to stop immediately. Pedro also warned that the Ministry of Justice “will not hesitate to prosecute anyone found spreading false information intended to cause fear or alarm,” which is punishable under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law.
