By Charles Pemu 
Nollywood actor, Olarenwaju James, widely known as Baba Ijesha, has reportedly been released from prison following a favorable judgment from the Court of Appeal that overturned his previous conviction for the sexual assault of a minor.
The actor had been arrested in 2021 and was subsequently sentenced in July 2022 by the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja to 16 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty on multiple counts relating to the assault of a 14-year-old girl.
An unverified but widely circulated video obtained by a correspondent on Saturday purportedly showed the comic actor sitting in a vehicle shortly after his release, expressing palpable relief and stating his need for rest.
The video, which was posted by various accounts across Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), could not be independently verified, but the man seen celebrating his freedom appeared to be the actor. In a brief phone conversation captured in the clip, he was heard saying in Yoruba, “Apase, I’m out… I just came out. I want to relax. I just want to leave here so I decided to inform you. Thank you for supporting me. I will call you,” before ending the call.
Fellow Nollywood actor and friend, Yomi Fabiyi, also broke the news of the alleged Appeal Court’s judgment in an Instagram post on Friday. Fabiyi stated that the ruling brought much-needed clarity to what he described as a mishandled case, asserting that the decision “clears” the actor.
Fabiyi, who identifies as a human rights advocate, maintained his strong stance against all forms of sexual abuse, especially concerning children or minors. He wrote that Baba Ijesha “is not just back but better,” and emphasized that the lengthy legal battle underscored the crucial need for fairness, due process, and the protection of rights in all cases involving minors.