The Court of Appeal in Lagos has affirmed the judgment of the Lagos State High Court, sentencing a Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, professionally known as Baba Ijesa, to five years imprisonment for sexual assault.
Baba Ijesa was arraigned on June 24, 2021, on a six-count charge of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.
On July 14, 2022, the Lagos High Court sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor.
His 16-year jail term is expected to run concurrently. This means that the movie actor will spend five years behind bars.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo had convicted Baba Ijesa and sentenced him after he was found guilty of four out of the six counts.
In April 2024, Baba Ijesa challenged his jail terms through his lawyer, Kayode Olabiran.
Olabiran told the appellate court that his client was set up and was merely “acting according to a script” provided by a colleague.
He also claimed that the actor gave his confessional statement “under duress”.
The lawyer further argued that Baba Ijesa’s conviction was “done in error” and urged the court to set it aside.
But on Thursday, the appellate court had in the lead judgment delivered by a Justice of the Appeal Court (JCA), Justice Folashade Ojo, affirmed the conviction of Baba Ijesa on two counts bordering on “indecent touching and sexual assault of a 14-year-old minor”.
