Appeal Court upholds Baba Ijesha’s 5-year conviction over Sexual Assault

The Court of Appeal Lagos Division, on Friday, affirmed the judgement of a Lagos State High Court which sentenced Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly called Baba Ijesha, to five years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old minor.

Recall that Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd.) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court had on July 12 2022, sentenced the actor for the crime.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Baba Ijesha appealed the judgement through his counsel, Kayode Olabiran.

The appellate court in its lead judgement delivered by Justice Folashade Ojo found the appellant, Baba Ijesha, guilty on counts 4 and 5, where he was accused of indecently touching a minor and sexually assaulting her.

Other members of the panel, Justice Abdullahi Bayero and Justice Paul Bassi aligned themselves with the lead judgement.

Justice Ojo emphasised that Baba Ijesha confessed to the crime in police statements.

The appellate court further affirmed Baba Ijesha’s imprisonment for the indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault from the April 2021 incident, noting that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court ordered as follows; “I affirm the conviction and sentence of the appellant to 5 years imprisonment for the offence of indecent treatment of a child contrary to section 135 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015 (count 4 of the charge).

“I also affirm the appellant’s conviction to 3 years imprisonment for sexual assault contrary to section 263 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011 (count 5 of the information).

“The sentences for counts 4 and 5 are to run concurrently”.