The Lagos Court of Appeal has overturned the 2022 conviction of actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, for the sexual assault of a minor.
He was released from Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison on November 14, 2025 following the ruling.
A three-member panel led by Justice Folashade Ojo found that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court cited procedural lapses, inconsistencies in the timeline and unreliable witness testimonies as key factors in quashing the conviction.
Baba Ijesha was initially arrested in May 2021 at the home of actress Damilola Adekoya (Princess).
In 2022, he was convicted on five counts of child indecency and sexual assault, receiving a 16-year sentence structured to run concurrently for an effective five-year term.
With the Appellate Court’s decision, the actor has regained freedom after serving more than four years in custody.