Lagos govt lists Baba Ijesha on sex offenders’ register

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has revealed that Nollywood star Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha, has been added to the Lagos State Sex Offenders Register after serving his sentence for sexually assaulting a minor.

In 2021, the actor was convicted of assaulting a 14-year-old girl and sentenced to jail.

Shortly after his release, a video seen on Saturday showed the actor in a vehicle shortly after being released, looked relieved and stating that he needed to rest.

The update from the Lagos State Government followed a report in which the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, dismissed claims that the actor had been cleared by the Court of Appeal.

Pedro described the circulating claims as “false, misleading and irresponsible,” stressing that the conviction still stands.

In a post shared on X on Sunday, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency restated the government’s position, quoting the Attorney-General as saying: “Mr Olanrewaju James was not cleared of the offences of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child.”

He warned that the assertions being circulated by actor Yomi Fabiyi were “wholly untrue and capable of alarming the public.”

The Attorney-General asked Lagos residents and the wider public to disregard the false reports and cautioned Fabiyi and any platform promoting the claims to desist immediately.

The agency added that, “In line with Section 37 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law 2021, his name has been duly entered into the Lagos State Sex Offenders Register.

“This measure supports ongoing efforts to protect minors, strengthen accountability and ensure that accurate information is available to the public.”