The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, has refuted reports claiming that actor Olanrewaju James, aka Baba Ijesha, was freed after being cleared by the Court of Appeal, describing the claims as “false, misleading, and irresponsible.”

Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Pedro said his office was concerned by a social media post by actor Yomi Fabiyi, later picked up by an online publication, which alleged that the appellate court had exonerated Baba Ijesha of all charges, including sexual offences involving a minor.

Pedro stressed that the claims were a complete distortion of the judicial record. He clarified that at no point was Baba Ijesha cleared of the offences.

He provided a summary of the legal proceedings:

• On July 14, 2022, the High Court of Lagos State convicted Baba Ijesha of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child in connection with incidents from 2021, sentencing him to five years and three years, respectively, to run concurrently.
• On June 28, 2024, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, delivered judgment on his appeal. While the court set aside convictions relating to alleged offences from 2013–2014, it upheld the 2021 sexual assault conviction and sentence.
• Baba Ijesha further appealed to the Supreme Court, but his appeal was struck out on May 29, 2025, for incompetence. A motion for leave to file a fresh appeal was dismissed on October 9, 2025, leaving the Court of Appeal judgment intact.

Pedro emphasized that Baba Ijesha’s recent release from custody was because he completed his sentence, not because he was acquitted or discharged.

“Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared of the offences of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child,” Pedro said, warning that Fabiyi’s claims were untrue and could alarm the public.

The Attorney-General urged Lagos residents to disregard the misinformation and cautioned Fabiyi and platforms amplifying the claims to cease immediately. He warned that the Office of the Attorney-General could initiate criminal proceedings for the publication of false news intended to cause fear or alarm, under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law.

Pedro reiterated the state’s commitment to protecting children, enforcing criminal convictions, and ensuring accurate representation of judicial outcomes.