Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, seeking to overturn his conviction by a Lagos State High Court in a case involving the sexual assault of a minor.
In July 2022, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd.) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court sentenced Baba Ijesha to five years in prison for the aforementioned offense. However, dissatisfied with the verdict, the actor has now turned to the appeal court in a bid to challenge the length of his jail term.
Baba Ijesha’s legal representative, Kayode Olabiran, argued before the appeal court on Tuesday that his client had been set up and was merely following a script provided to him by his colleague, Damilola Adekoya, who is referred to as PW1 in the case. Olabiran contended, “The appellant was set up. The appellant is an actor. He acted in a script that he was invited to act by his colleague, Damilola Adekoya.”
On the other hand, the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, urged the court to dismiss the appeal, asserting that it lacked merit and was based on a misconception. He called on the court to uphold the judgment delivered by the lower court.
