Convicted Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has stirred fresh controversy after claiming he was set up in the sexual assault case that led to his imprisonment.
The actor made the claim in a newly released song titled “Eniwaye Daran,” which was uploaded on his YouTube channel on Thursday. In the track, Baba Ijesha revisited the events surrounding his arrest and conviction, insisting that the sexual assault case setup against him was orchestrated by people he once trusted.
According to the actor, the incident that resulted in his imprisonment began when a colleague allegedly invited him to her residence under the pretext of offering him a movie role and sharing a meal.
“The incident happened on April 21, 2021. Princess She Devil called me that she was preparing my favourite food—pounded yam, crayfish, egusi soup with bush meat,” he said in the song.
He added that he had earlier been informed about a potential acting role but was asked to portray a different character from his usual roles.
“She said she wanted me to act as a young guy because she wanted to take me to another level, but I never knew it was Kirikiri and Panti prison,” he sang.
Baba Ijesha claimed that upon arriving at the residence, he met several individuals who were introduced as members of a film production crew. He said he was instructed to rehearse a scene with a young girl while waiting for the meal he had been promised.
“When I got to her house, I met some people there. She said the food was still cooking. While waiting, I started rehearsing according to what the alleged director told me, not knowing there was no movie anywhere,” he said, maintaining that the entire situation was part of the sexual assault case setup.
The actor alleged that the situation quickly escalated when several individuals suddenly entered the room and accused him of misconduct.
“I never knew they had already ganged up against me. Many more joined her in the process just to keep me in prison,” he claimed.
He further alleged that some colleagues in the entertainment industry betrayed him and supported the claims against him.
“A lot of elders and my colleagues in the movie industry betrayed me. They conspired. All this was done because of my glory,” he said.
Baba Ijesha also reflected on his time in prison, stating that the experience changed his life significantly.
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“I ended up in Kirikiri prison because of a woman. Help me thank God I am free from them. I saw misery in the hands of the person who accused me,” he said, reiterating his claim that the sexual assault case setup led to his incarceration.
The actor also warned his fans to be cautious about the people they trust.
“Please my fans be careful with friends. They cannot be trusted. Flee from them because the world is evil, and human beings are more wicked than venomous snakes,” he said.
The case generated nationwide outrage in 2021 after comedienne Princess Adekoya accused the actor of sexually assaulting her 14-year-old foster daughter. The allegation sparked widespread reactions on social media and within the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Several celebrities publicly called for justice for the minor, including actress Iyabo Ojo, who was vocal in demanding accountability at the time.
In July 2022, a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja convicted Baba Ijesha for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child. The court sentenced him to five years and three years imprisonment respectively, with the terms to run concurrently.
Following controversies surrounding his release, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice clarified that the actor was not acquitted of the offences. The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, explained that although the Court of Appeal set aside some earlier convictions related to alleged offences between 2013 and 2014, it upheld the conviction connected to the 2021 incident.
Pedro said the actor’s release was simply due to the completion of his prison sentence, not because he had been cleared of wrongdoing.
Despite the court rulings and official clarifications, Baba Ijesha’s new song has reignited discussions online, with many social media users debating his claims and revisiting the highly publicised case.