Court of Appeal upholds Baba Ijesha’s five-year sentence for sexual assault

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has affirmed the judgement of a Lagos State High Court, which sentenced Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, to five years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

In a unanimous decision on Friday, the appellate court found Baba Ijesha guilty on counts 4 and 5, which charged him with indecently touching and sexually assaulting a minor.

The court, however, set aside his conviction on charges of indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault of a minor that allegedly occurred between 2013 and 2014.

The appellate court held that Baba Ijesha voluntarily confessed to the crime and did not challenge the testimony of the prosecution witness, Damilola Adekoya, throughout the proceedings.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (rtd) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court had initially sentenced Baba Ijesha on July 14, 2022.

He was convicted on four out of six counts in suit number ID/14623C/2021, brought against him by the Lagos State government.