The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, has dismissed claims circulating online that Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, was cleared of all sexual offence charges following his recent release from prison.

The controversy began after actor Yomi Fabiyi announced on Friday, November 14, that the Court of Appeal had supposedly dismissed Baba Ijesha’s sexual abuse case and fully exonerated him. Fabiyi insisted that the entire case was a “charade” and that the actor walked free because the appellate court absolved him of wrongdoing.

However, Pedro has now clarified that these claims are false, misleading, and a complete misrepresentation of the judicial record.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Sunday, the Attorney-General explained that while Baba Ijesha was indeed released from prison, it was not due to an acquittal but because he had completed his jail term.

He emphasized that “no such clearance occurred at any stage of the judicial process.”

Pedro outlined the correct legal timeline:

On July 14, 2022, the Lagos High Court convicted Baba Ijesha of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child over incidents that happened in 2021. He was sentenced to five and three years, to run concurrently.

On June 28, 2024, the Court of Appeal set aside earlier convictions linked to alleged offences from 2013–2014, but firmly upheld the 2021 conviction and sentence.

A further appeal to the Supreme Court was struck out on May 29, 2025, for incompetence.

A final attempt to seek leave for another appeal was dismissed on October 9, 2025.

This sequence, Pedro stressed, means the conviction for the 2021 sexual assault charge remains intact.

He further stated that Baba Ijesha’s recent release was solely because he had served the prison term as affirmed by the Court of Appeal—not because he was acquitted or discharged.

“Mr. Olanrewaju James was not cleared of the offences of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child,” Pedro emphasized.

The Attorney-General urged the public to ignore the circulating misinformation and cautioned both Fabiyi and any media platforms amplifying the false narrative to desist immediately. He warned that the Ministry of Justice is prepared to take legal action under Section 39 of the Lagos Criminal Law, which prohibits publishing false news intended to cause fear or alarm.

Pedro concluded by reaffirming the state government’s commitment to child protection and to ensuring that the public receives accurate information about judicial outcomes.