The Lagos State Government has officially placed actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, on its sex offenders list following the completion of his prison sentence.
Gossip News Now reports that authorities clarified his release does not nullify his previous convictions for sexual assault and the indecent treatment of a minor.
Baba Ijesha served a five-year term after being found guilty by the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja in 2022 for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Two of the charges carried five-year sentences each, while the remaining two carried three-year terms, all ordered to run concurrently, resulting in a total imprisonment of five years.
Online claims suggesting that Baba Ijesha had been exonerated of all charges were dismissed as false and misleading by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
The agency warned both the public and media to disregard such misinformation, noting that spreading false reports could result in legal consequences under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law.
His release on Friday followed the full completion of his sentence, as confirmed by the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court had previously overturned older convictions from 2013 and 2014 but upheld the 2021 sexual assault rulings.
A subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed, and a later request to file a fresh appeal was also denied, leaving the convictions intact.
The case initially drew widespread attention after a video emerged in April 2021 showing Baba Ijesha assaulting a minor.
The victim’s foster mother, comedienne Damilola Adekoya, known as Princess, reported the incident to the police, prompting his arrest and prosecution.
During the year-long trial, six prosecution witnesses and four defense witnesses gave testimony.
The judge ultimately convicted him on four counts related to sexual assault and indecent treatment, while two other charges were dismissed.
The DSVA confirmed that Baba Ijesha’s name has now been officially added to Lagos State’s sex offenders register, a move aimed at protecting minors and ensuring public access to accurate information.
