By Duchess Ifeoluwa 

Nigerian actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has regained his freedom after the Court of Appeal overturned his conviction for child indecency and sexual assault.

The actor was released on Friday, November 14, 2025, after spending more than four years in custody.

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Folashade Ojo, ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court identified procedural lapses, inconsistencies in the timeline, and unreliable witness testimonies as critical factors that weakened the state’s case and ultimately led to the quashing of the conviction.

Baba Ijesha was first arrested in May 2021, at the home of actress Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess.

In 2022, he was convicted by the Lagos State High Court on five counts of child indecency and sexual assault.

Although he received a cumulative 16-year sentence, the terms were to run concurrently, amounting to an effective five-year imprisonment.

His release marks a dramatic turn in the high-profile case, which had generated intense nationwide debate and divided public opinion.

Actor Yomi Fabiyi, who announced the development on Instagram, described the judgment as vindication.

“You are now officially FREE AND OUT. Baba Ijesha is not just back but BETTER,” he wrote.

He added that he was pleased the appeal court cleared the actor of the allegations, expressing concern over what he described as “sentiments and wickedness” overshadowing the rule of law.

With the appellate decision, Baba Ijesha leaves prison after serving more than four years, bringing a controversial chapter in Nollywood and Nigeria’s legal discourse to a close.