James Olanrewaju Omiyinka

Olanrewaju James, known professionally as Baba Ijesha, is a Nigerian actor who has appeared in Yoruba-language Nollywood productions. He was arrested in April 2021 following allegations of sexual assault against a 14-year-old minor girl. Following his release, the Lagos State Government confirmed that his name had been entered into the Lagos State Sex Offenders Register.

Arrest and charges On 19 April 2021, a video recording that purportedly showed James sexually assaulting a minor circulated online, prompting a report to the Sabo Police Station in Yaba, Lagos, by comedian Damilola Adekoya, known as Princess, who was the foster mother of the girl. James was arraigned before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on 24 June 2021 on a six-count charge comprising: sexual assault by penetration (2014); indecent treatment of a child; sexual assault (2011); indecent treatment of a child (2015); sexual assault (2015); and attempted sexual assault by penetration (2021). The court rejected this argument, finding that the interaction between James and the minor on 19 April 2021 was not a theatrical performance but a personal encounter.

Conviction and sentencing (2022) On 14 July 2022, Justice Taiwo delivered judgment, finding James guilty on four of the six counts. The Court of Appeal set aside the convictions relating to counts two and three, which concerned alleged offences committed between 2013 and 2014, on the basis that the testimony of the principal prosecution witness regarding those incidents constituted hearsay.