Lagos Attorney-General Lawal Pedro debunks claims that Baba Ijesha was acquitted, confirming that the Court of Appeal upheld his 2021 sexual assault conviction, and no clearance occurred
Baba Ijesha NOT Acquitted, Conviction Still Stands – Says Lagos Attorney-General
The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, has dismissed social media reports alleging that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James (Baba Ijesha) was acquitted of all charges—including sexual offences involving a minor—by the Court of Appeal.
Pedro described the claims as false, misleading, irresponsible, and a deliberate distortion of official judicial records capable of misleading the public.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Sunday, the Attorney-General said his office became concerned after actor Yomi Fabiyi published a post asserting that Baba Ijesha had been “cleared,” which was later reproduced by an online news platform.
“No such clearance occurred at any stage of the judicial process,”
Pedro stated firmly.
According to the Attorney-General, the High Court of Lagos State had, on July 14, 2022, convicted Baba Ijesha for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child over incidents that occurred in 2021, sentencing him to five years and three years, to run concurrently.
Pedro clarified that the Court of Appeal’s decision on June 28, 2024, only set aside convictions relating to alleged offences from 2013–2014, but upheld the 2021 conviction in full.
Further appeals also failed – In May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court struck out the appeal on grounds of incompetence, and on October 9, 2025, a renewed motion for leave to file another appeal was also dismissed. Thus, the Court of Appeal judgment affirming the 2021 conviction remains binding.
Pedro stressed that the actor’s release from custody was solely because he had completed his full term, not because he was acquitted.
“Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared of the offences of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child,”
he insisted.
Pedro urged the public to disregard the viral claims and cautioned Yomi Fabiyi, as well as platforms amplifying the misinformation, to desist immediately.
He warned that the state would not hesitate to initiate criminal proceedings under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law, which prohibits publishing false news capable of causing fear or alarm.
The Attorney-General reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to protecting children, enforcing valid criminal convictions, and ensuring judicial outcomes are accurately represented.
FACT-CHECK CONTEXT: The Lagos State Ministry of Justice confirmed that the Attorney-General’s clarification was an official statement responding to misinformation circulating online. Court records from the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court were reviewed and verified by the ministry before the public statement was issued. No document or ruling exists showing an acquittal for the 2021 offences. Read More
