The Lagos State government has dismissed reports claiming that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was freed after being acquitted by the Court of Appeal.

The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), described the circulating claims as “false, misleading and irresponsible.”

Speaking to journalists on Sunday in Lagos, Pedro addressed a social media post by actor Yomi Fabiyi, who alleged that Baba Ijesha had been exonerated of all charges, including sexual offences involving a minor. Pedro said these claims represented a “complete distortion of the judicial record and capable of misleading the public.”

He clarified the legal timeline:

• On July 14, 2022, the Lagos State High Court convicted Baba Ijesha for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child related to incidents in 2021. He was sentenced to five and three years respectively, to run concurrently.
• On June 28, 2024, the Court of Appeal set aside convictions related to alleged offences from 2013–2014 but upheld the 2021 convictions and sentence.
• A subsequent Supreme Court appeal was struck out on May 29, 2025, and a later application for a fresh appeal was dismissed on October 9, 2025, leaving the Court of Appeal judgment fully in force.

Pedro emphasized that Baba Ijesha’s recent release was solely due to the completion of his prison term, not because he was cleared of the offences.

“Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared of the offences of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child,” Pedro said, warning that the false claims could cause unnecessary alarm.

He urged Lagos residents to disregard the misinformation and cautioned Fabiyi and platforms circulating the reports to desist immediately. Pedro added that the Office of the Attorney-General “will not hesitate to initiate criminal proceedings for publication of false news with intent to cause fear or alarm, an offence under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law.”