Veteran actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesa, became emotional while discussing his imprisonment and the circumstances that led to his conviction.
Speaking candidly during a chat with Talk-to-B, he wept freely, describing life as a “war” that must be fought, adding, “Life is a war. My imprisonment is part of the war I have to fight.”
Baba Ijesa recounted his early life, explaining that he was born in Ile-Ife and relocated to Lagos at age 12 due to the Ife-Modakeke conflict.
The actor addressed allegations made by actress Princess Damilola Adekoya, whom he claims misrepresented his interactions with her.
He insisted that they never dated, and that he never hugged, kissed, or engaged in sexual activity with her. He described her approach to him years ago as seeking emotional support during a personal crisis, including marital problems and a miscarriage.
Baba Ijesa stated, “I am not a pedophile. I am not a rapist. This is what happened,” outlining the events that led to his arrest.
He explained that he was contacted to act in a skit about child abuse for the Lagos State Government, but alleged that he was unaware of any real danger ahead.
According to him, the scenario was staged, and the girl involved was reluctant to participate in the skit, stressing that Princess forced her to do it.
He also accused Princess of manipulating situations to frame him, stating, “Princess deceived the Lagos Government. The allegation that was used to sentence me to imprisonment was harassment because I touched the girl. They removed the rape allegation at the Court of Appeal.”
Baba Ijesa shared that he has placed his faith in God regarding his case, saying he prayed never to harm a child. “I have given my case file to God. I asked God not to allow me to come back from prison if I disflower a young girl with my car key,” he explained.
The actor spoke about his personal life and relationships, noting tensions with family and former partners, and reiterated that his interactions with Princess were misrepresented. He also claimed that Princess eventually apologized to him in prison.
Baba Ijesa concluded by asserting his innocence, emphasising that his conviction was for sexual harassment, not rape, and maintained that the events were manipulated as part of a setup.
This interview sheds new light on the complex circumstances surrounding one of Nigeria’s most high-profile entertainment cases, sparking renewed discussions about the boundaries between acting, consent, and legal accountability.
