CurrentReport Blog In a significant legal development, the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has upheld the five-year imprisonment of popular Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha. This decision reaffirms the lower court’s judgment regarding his involvement in the sexual assault of a minor.
Background of the Case
On July 12, 2022, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd.) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court handed down a five-year prison sentence to Baba Ijesha. He was found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor, a case that garnered significant media attention and public outcry. Dissatisfied with this outcome, Baba Ijesha, through his counsel Kayode Olabiran, appealed the judgment, seeking to overturn the conviction.
Appeal Court’s Judgment
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, June 27, 2024, Justice Folashade Ojo of the Court of Appeal provided a nuanced verdict. The court set aside Baba Ijesha’s conviction on counts related to the indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault occurring between 2013-2014, citing the testimony of PW1, Damilola Adekoya, as hearsay. However, Justice Ojo validated Adekoya’s direct eyewitness account of the incident on April 19, 2021, and highlighted Baba Ijesha’s confession in police statements as credible evidence.
Key Findings
The appellate court confirmed the lower court’s findings regarding the April 2021 incident. The prosecution successfully demonstrated that Baba Ijesha had committed the offenses of indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault, with the evidence proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Court’s Orders
Justice Ojo’s ruling included the following directives:
- Affirmation of Baba Ijesha’s conviction and five-year imprisonment for the offence of indecent treatment of a child, under section 135 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015 (count 4).
- Affirmation of a three-year imprisonment sentence for sexual assault, under section 263 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011 (count 5).
- The sentences for counts 4 and 5 are to run concurrently.
Implications
This ruling marks a significant moment in the legal proceedings surrounding Baba Ijesha, reinforcing the judiciary’s stance on issues of sexual offences against minors. The upheld conviction sends a strong message about the consequences of such crimes and the importance of credible witness testimony and confessions in legal determinations.
