An Ikeja Special Offences Court has sentenced Nollywood actor and comedian, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha to 16 years of imprisonment for sexual assault. 

DIPLOMATIC DIARY had reported that  Baba Ijesha  was arrested by the Police in April 2021 for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old  minor,  daughter of his colleague, actress and comedienne, Damilola Adekoya popularly known as Princess.

Baba Ijesha was arraigned in court for a  six counts of child defilement that include indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.

The actor had denied the allegations but a CCTV video recording, detailing his relationship with the victim was played in court.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in a two-hour judgement on Thursday, convicted Baba Ijesha of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault and attempted sexual assault

Taiwo, however, discharged and acquitted him of count one and count six, which were: sexual assault by penetration and attempted sexual assault by penetration.

The judge ruled that there was no evidence before the court, which proved that the embattled Nollywood actor was tortured into giving the statement to the police.