Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, has dismissed widespread online reports alleging that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was cleared of all charges by the Court of Appeal.
Pedro described the viral claims as completely inaccurate and a grave distortion of the judicial process. Speaking to journalists on Sunday, he condemned the reports as “false, misleading and irresponsible,” warning that such misinformation dangerously misrepresents the official court record.
The rumours gained momentum after a social media post by actor Yomi Fabiyi, later republished by an online platform, suggested that the appellate court had exonerated Baba Ijesha and implied that the prosecution lacked merit.
Pedro stated unequivocally that “no such clearance occurred at any stage of the judicial process,” before outlining the full legal history of the case.
He explained that the High Court of Lagos State had, on July 14, 2022, convicted Baba Ijesha for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child, offences tied to incidents that occurred in 2021. The court handed down concurrent sentences of five years and three years for the crimes.
Although the Court of Appeal set aside convictions linked to alleged offences from 2013 and 2014, Pedro clarified that the appellate court upheld the 2021 conviction in its judgment delivered on June 28, 2024.
He further noted that an appeal to the Supreme Court was struck out on May 29, 2025, for incompetence. A subsequent request for leave to file a fresh appeal was dismissed on October 9, 2025. Consequently, the Court of Appeal’s decision affirming the 2021 conviction stands as the final, legally binding judgment.
Pedro stressed that Baba Ijesha’s recent release resulted solely from the completion of his prison sentence, not because he had been discharged or acquitted. “Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared of the offences of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child,” he said.
The Attorney-General urged the public to disregard the false reports and cautioned Fabiyi and any platform circulating the claims to desist immediately. He warned that the state government may initiate criminal prosecution for spreading false news intended to cause fear or alarm—an offence under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law—if such actions continue.
Pedro concluded by reaffirming the Lagos State Government’s commitment to child protection, proper enforcement of criminal convictions, and transparent communication of judicial outcomes.
