Convicted Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has described prison as a place where prayers are answered most, claiming that some sudden deaths are linked to the prayers and curses of inmates in correctional facilities.
The actor made the remarks during an interview with Dele Adeyanju on Agabletu TV, in a video shared on the station’s YouTube channel on Sunday.
Reflecting on his experience behind bars months after his release, Baba Ijesha described prison life as bitter, alleging that he was made a scapegoat.
He advised young people to be careful about their actions and decisions, warning that situations they might consider unlikely to lead to imprisonment could eventually land them in jail.
“Youth should be careful in their dealings. What you think may not lead to prison may land you in prison,” he said.
Asked to describe his prison experience, the actor replied, “Bitter.”
He added: “Bitter because I was a scapegoat. Do you know, many want people to learn a lesson from celebrities.”
Baba Ijesha said he experienced the same conditions as other inmates despite his celebrity status, alleging that some correctional officers were harsher than police officers.
According to him, some warders were indifferent to the status of inmates and treated everyone according to the rules of the facility.
“Some warders are more wicked than police. Those in offices are different. There are some that deal with criminals. They don’t know who is celebrity. They don’t listen to the radio or pay attention to anything,” he said.
The actor also recounted his surprise at seeing wealthy and influential people behind bars, where, according to him, they were treated like ordinary inmates.
He further claimed that many people in correctional facilities were being detained despite being innocent.
“There are about 65 per cent there that are innocent. There is a guy there called No Case. Dear government, please. Some people are in Kirikiri Prison, some are in the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, and others are in Ikoyi. You need to hear their stories and see what they are going through,” he said.
He appealed to judges and lawyers to pay attention to the experiences of inmates and examine cases where people might have been wrongly detained.
Baba Ijesha also described prison as a place of intense prayer, claiming that some inmates make desperate appeals to God over their cases.
“Do you know prison is where prayer answer most?” he said.
He alleged that some inmates make solemn vows and prayers, insisting that those who believe they have been wrongly imprisoned continue to seek divine intervention.
The actor urged people in positions of authority to exercise caution and consideration when dealing with others, particularly in matters involving legal disputes and imprisonment.
He also claimed that some sudden deaths could be connected to the prayers of inmates, although he provided no evidence to support the allegation.
Baba Ijesha’s comments come after his release from prison following his conviction over a 2021 child sexual abuse case.
In July 2022, a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja sentenced him to concurrent prison terms of five years and three years for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child.
The Lagos State Government later clarified that he had not been acquitted but was released after serving his sentence.
The Court of Appeal set aside some of the earlier convictions but upheld the sexual assault conviction. His name was also added to the Lagos State sex offenders’ register.
