LAGOS, Nigeria – Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, better known as Baba Ijesha, walked free from Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison on Friday, November 14, 2025, after the Court of Appeal quashed his 2022 conviction for the sexual assault of a minor—a ruling that has reignited fierce debates over justice, celebrity influence, and child protection in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
The 52-year-old comic actor, celebrated for his Yoruba-language roles and signature comedic timing, had served more than three years of a reduced five-year concurrent sentence stemming from a controversial trial that captivated—and polarized—public attention. The appellate court’s decision, delivered in Lagos, cited insufficient evidence to uphold the original guilty verdict, effectively clearing Baba Ijesha of the child defilement charge while upholding lesser counts related to indecent exposure.
In a jubilant Instagram post late Friday, fellow actor and vocal supporter Yomi Fabiyi announced the release, framing it as vindication against what he called a “charade” orchestrated by “sentiments and wickedness.” Fabiyi wrote: “You are now officially FREE AND OUT. Baba Ijesha is not just back but BETTER. I am also happy you were cleared by the APPEAL COURT of ever having sex/defile any child/minor. The 7-year-old story is a charade. We live in a terrible world, where sentiments and wickedness rise above the rule of law and truth.” 10 11 12
Baba Ijesha, speaking briefly to supporters outside the prison gates, echoed the sentiment of relief. “I want to relax. I just want to leave here so I decided to inform you. Thank you for supporting me. I will call you,” he said in a video circulating on social media, his voice steady but laced with exhaustion. 15 The actor, who appeared visibly slimmer but composed, was mobbed by a small crowd of well-wishers and family members as he departed the facility.
The Case That Divided Nollywood
The saga began in May 2021 when Baba Ijesha was arrested following a sting operation by comedienne Damilola Adekoya, known as Princess, who alleged he had sexually assaulted her then-14-year-old foster daughter—a girl she claimed Baba Ijesha had groomed since age seven. Princess, a prominent figure in Lagos’ comedy scene, released CCTV footage purportedly showing the actor engaging in inappropriate physical contact with the minor during a scripted “role-play” at her home.
Prosecutors argued the encounter constituted rape and child defilement under the Lagos State Criminal Law, leading to a high-profile trial at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court. On July 14, 2022, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo convicted Baba Ijesha on five counts, including indecent treatment of a child and assault, sentencing him to 16 years—later adjusted to five years concurrent due to overlapping charges. 13 14
From the outset, the case fractured Nollywood. Supporters like Fabiyi and the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) decried it as a “setup,” alleging the footage was staged for a film scene and that Princess had coached the victim. They pointed to inconsistencies, such as post-arrest forensic evidence suggesting the minor had engaged in unrelated sexual activity, and accused authorities of bias influenced by Princess’s celebrity status. 10 17 Fabiyi’s Friday post amplified these claims, asserting that Princess and an associate, Damola Adekola (alias “Okele”), had groomed the girl and engaged in child pornography by installing hidden cameras—allegations that remain unproven and have drawn sharp rebukes.
Critics, including women’s rights groups like the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), hailed the original conviction as a milestone for survivor justice, emphasizing the courage required for minors to testify in Nigeria’s often hostile legal system. Princess, who has largely stayed silent since the appeal filing, previously described the ordeal as “traumatizing” and vowed to protect her ward at all costs.
The appellate panel, in a unanimous ruling, found the trial court’s reliance on the victim’s testimony and video evidence “insufficient to prove penetration or intent beyond reasonable doubt,” while dismissing claims of a seven-year abuse timeline as unsubstantiated. 15 18 Legal experts note the decision aligns with Nigeria’s evidentiary standards under the Child Rights Act, but it has sparked calls for reforms to better protect vulnerable witnesses.
A Polarized Response: Jubilation and Outrage
Social media erupted Friday evening, with #BabaIjeshaFree trending nationwide on X (formerly Twitter). Supporters posted celebratory videos of the actor’s release, hailing it as a triumph over “judicial miscarriage.” 0 3 4 One user, @McPilot7, wrote: “Finally after 7 years… Justice served,” while entertainment blogger @sorosokegossip shared: “Baba Ijesha is not just back but BETTER.” 0 3
Yet, the backlash was swift. Advocacy groups decried the ruling as a setback for #EndChildAbuse campaigns, with one X post from @nairaroot noting: “Debates on due process and minors’ cases are heating up again.” 9 False rumors of Baba Ijesha’s earlier release in June 2025—fueled by a misleading video of him kneeling before the Ooni of Ife—had already sowed confusion, as fact-checkers confirmed he remained incarcerated until now. 16 18
The AGN, through a statement Saturday, welcomed the verdict but urged “healing and reconciliation” within the industry, while Princess’s allies have hinted at a potential Supreme Court appeal.
Looking Ahead: Redemption or Reckoning?
For Baba Ijesha, whose career was derailed by the scandal—losing endorsements and roles—the road back is uncertain. At 52, he joins a roster of Nollywood comeback stories, but the stigma lingers. “I’m grateful to God and my supporters,” he told reporters en route to an undisclosed family reunion. “This chapter is closed; I’m focusing on family and faith.”
The case underscores deeper fissures in Nigeria’s justice system: low conviction rates for sexual offenses (under 30%, per DSVA data), celebrity sway in trials, and the tension between due process and victim advocacy. As one legal analyst put it: “This isn’t just about Baba Ijesha—it’s a mirror to how we handle power and vulnerability in Nollywood and beyond.”
With the dust settling, questions remain: Will Princess pursue further appeals? Can Baba Ijesha reclaim his spotlight? And in a nation where one in four girls faces sexual violence before 18, will this ruling deter survivors from speaking out? For now, as Fabiyi put it, Baba Ijesha is “free”—but the echoes of 2021 reverberate on.
