The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), has dismissed reports suggesting that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was “cleared” of sexual assault charges by the Court of Appeal.
Pedro described the circulating claims as false and capable of misleading the public, especially a social media post by actor Yomi Fabiyi alleging that the actor had been exonerated.
According to Pedro, the clarification became necessary after the false report claimed the Court of Appeal nullified the conviction and portrayed the entire case as a “charade.”
He explained that the Lagos High Court, on July 14, 2022, convicted Baba Ijesha for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a minor over incidents that occurred in 2021. He was sentenced to five and three years respectively, to run concurrently.
Pedro stated that the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on June 28, 2024, only set aside convictions relating to allegations from 2013–2014, but fully upheld the conviction and sentence for the 2021 sexual assault case.
He added that a further appeal filed at the Supreme Court was struck out on May 29, 2025, for incompetence. A subsequent request to file a new appeal was also dismissed on October 9, 2025.
The Attorney-General emphasized that the actor regained his freedom solely because he had served the prison term affirmed by the Court of Appeal, not because he was discharged or acquitted.
“Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared of sexual assault or indecent treatment of a child,” Pedro said, warning that false reports circulating online could cause unnecessary fear and confusion.
He urged the public to disregard the misleading claims and cautioned those spreading them to desist, noting that publishing false information intended to alarm the public is punishable under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law.
Meanwhile, comedienne and actress Princess has urged the Lagos State Government and the Department of Justice to include the actor’s name in the sex offenders register. She made the call during an Instagram Live session on November 15, 2025.
