Yoruba Actor Baba Ijesha Regains Freedom After Over Three Years in Prison

Popular Yoruba actor Baba Ijesha has been released from prison after spending more than three years in custody. His freedom was confirmed by actor and filmmaker Yomi Fabiyi in an Instagram post shared on November 14, 2025.

Baba Ijesha, who was convicted in 2022 and handed a 16-year sentence over sexual-assault–related charges, has been at the center of one of Nollywood’s most controversial legal battles.

Appeal Court Clears Him of Defilement Charge

According to Fabiyi, the Court of Appeal cleared Baba Ijesha of the charge of defilement of a minor, a key element of the original case. However, other convictions related to indecent treatment and sexual assault had previously been upheld.

Yomi Fabiyi — who actively documented the trial and publicly supported Baba Ijesha throughout the case — described the entire process as a “charade.”

In his lengthy post, he argued that there was no credible proof showing the girl involved was 14 at the time of the incident.

Fabiyi’s Claims and Controversial Allegations

In his statement, Fabiyi also made several allegations:

He accused comedienne Princess, the girl’s foster mother, of grooming the minor and setting up surveillance cameras, which he described as inappropriate. He further claimed that another associate, Damola Adekola, was arrested during investigations but later released despite allegedly being involved with the girl.

Background of the Case

The allegations against Baba Ijesha became public when Princess raised alarm and released disturbing footage as evidence.

The matter eventually proceeded to court, leading to his 2022 conviction for indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault, though the defilement charge was later dismissed on appeal.

With his release now confirmed, reactions continue to trail the long-running case that deeply divided the public and the entertainment industry.

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