By SCM Staff Writer
LAGOS, Nigeria – A TOP legal eagle has issued a furious warning to a Nigerian star actor after he claimed convicted sex offender Olanrewaju James, known as ‘Baba Ijesha’, was ‘cleared’ by an Appeal Court.
Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, laid down the law, blasting Yomi Fabiyi for making “false, misleading and irresponsible statements” about the release of his controversial pal.
Fabiyi took to Instagram on Friday night, celebrating the release of Baba Ijesha from a correctional facility.
He boldly posted: “I am also happy you were cleared by the APPEAL COURT of ever defiled any child.”
Time Served
But the Attorney General blew a hole in the claims just two days later.
In a blistering Sunday statement, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) clarified that Baba Ijesha’s release was NOT because his conviction or sentence was overturned.
Instead, the sex convict was freed solely because he had fully served his five-year jail term.
Ijesha was found guilty by the State High Court in 2022 of offenses including sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child, a ruling later upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2024.
The AG confirmed that James even filed a last-gasp fresh appeal to the Supreme Court, but it was DISMISSED on October 9, 2025—leaving the original conviction fully intact.
Prison Threat
“Contrary to the misinformation in the public domain, Mr. James, popularly known as ‘Baba Ijesha’ was not cleared of having committed offenses of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child,” the AG declared.
The Lagos law boss then issued a stark threat to Fabiyi and any media platform repeating the claims.
He warned the actor must “desist” from spreading the lies “in his own interest.”
”Otherwise, he and any media platform repeating or spreading such misinformation may be liable for criminal prosecution… for the offense of publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public,” the statement added.
Fabiyi now faces the prospect of jail time under the Criminal Law of Lagos State if he fails to back down.
