Renowned Yoruba Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has taken steps to appeal his recent conviction and five-year jail term for alleged sexual assault of a minor. The appeal was lodged at the Lagos Division of the Appeal Court, where Baba Ijesha seeks to overturn the ruling handed down by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd.) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on July 12, 2022.
In his appeal, Baba Ijesha, through his legal representative Kayode Olabiran, asserted that he was unjustly set up and that his actions were in accordance with a scripted scenario he was invited to perform by his colleague. Olabiran emphasized, “The appellant was set up. The appellant is an actor. He acted in a script that he was invited to act by his colleague (PW1), Damilola Adekoya.”
Conversely, the Director of Public Prosecution, Babajide Martins, countered Baba Ijesha’s assertions, urging the court to dismiss the appeal on the grounds of lacking merit and being based on a misconception. Martins advocated for the affirmation of the lower court’s judgment, maintaining the integrity of the initial ruling.