Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has reignited public debate by asserting that the sexual assault case that led to his imprisonment was a deliberate setup. The actor shared his perspective in a recently released song titled “Eniwaye Daran”, accompanied by a music video on his YouTube channel.
In the song, Baba Ijesha recounted that the incident occurred on April 21, 2021, and involved a former colleague who invited him to her home under the pretense of offering a movie role and sharing a meal. He claimed that upon arrival, he met several people presented as the film’s production team and began rehearsing a scene with a young girl, unaware that it was part of a trap.
According to the actor, the situation escalated when a group of people allegedly confronted him, accusing him of misconduct. He described feeling betrayed by colleagues and industry elders, whom he said conspired against him.
“The incident was orchestrated, and I was unaware of their plan. Some even threatened my life. I thank God I survived,” Baba Ijesha said in the track. He also warned his fans to be cautious about whom they trust, calling human deceit “more dangerous than venomous snakes.”
The case originally sparked national outrage after the accuser alleged that Baba Ijesha sexually assaulted her 14-year-old foster daughter. The Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, convicted him in July 2022, sentencing him to five years for sexual assault and three years for indecent treatment of a child, to run concurrently.
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice later clarified that his release was not due to acquittal. Attorney-General Lawal Pedro explained that while the Court of Appeal overturned some unrelated convictions from 2013–2014, the 2021 sexual assault conviction was upheld. Baba Ijesha served his full sentence, leading to his release.
The accuser, Adekoya, has since called for his inclusion in the state’s sex offender register to ensure accountability for crimes involving minors. Despite official court rulings and clarifications, Baba Ijesha continues to insist in his song that he was innocent and the events were part of a conspiracy.
The release of “Eniwaye Daran” has sparked renewed online discussions, with social media users debating the actor’s claims and revisiting the widely publicized case that once dominated Nigeria’s entertainment headlines.
