Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi has maintained his support for his embattled colleague, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, amidst ongoing legal proceedings surrounding allegations of sexual assault against a minor.
Recall, Baba Ijesha was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment in July 2022 by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court after he was convicted on four of the six-count charges — indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.
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Speaking in a recent interview, Fabiyi noted that there is no evidence suggesting that Baba Ijesha engaged in sexual activity with the girl, which he claimed was the reason why the judge did not sentence him to life imprisonment.
Fabiyi, added that Baba Ijesha’s appeal process is still in progress in court.
“Baba Ijesha’s appeal process is still ongoing in court. There was no evidence that he slept with the girl; that was why the judge didn’t sentence him to life imprisonment,” he said.
He further mentioned that the aspect currently under consideration in the Appeal Court is that the individual who allegedly had sexual relations with the girl is currently walking free.
“He was called by Princess to shoot a skit, and the girl also said in court that she was called to shoot a skit.
“Why was the person who actually slept with the girl, whose sperm was found on her, asked to walk away free? Because they were caught together,” he added.
Fabiyi who has remained a staunch advocate for Baba Ijesha since his conviction also alleged that the victim was not a minor.
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A closed-circuit television footage which went viral in 2021 showed Baba Ijesha engaging in inappropriate behaviour, including kissing and fondling the victim, who was under the care of Princess.
The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, responsible for bringing charges against the actor, argued that his actions violated various sections of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015, including Sections 135, 137, 261, 202, 262, and 263, which carry potential life imprisonment penalties.
Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Taiwo stated that the prosecution did not sufficiently prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty of all the charges brought against him.
However, she found the defendant guilty on four of the six counts.
