An Ikeja Special Offences Court has convicted the embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James (well known as Baba Ijesha) of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old.
In a two-hour judgment on Thursday, which concluded a trial that lasted over 12 months, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo convicted Baba Ijesha of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault and attempted sexual assault. He was first arraigned in June, last year.
Justice Taiwo sentenced Baba Ijesha to 16 years in prison concurrently.
He was found guilty of four of six offences; two charges attract five years while the remaining two attract three years. Since his 16-year jail term will run concurrently, the movie star will spend five years in prison.
Justice Taiwo discharged and acquitted him of Counts One and Six, which were: sexual assault by penetration and attempted sexual assault by penetration.
Baba Ijesha was found guilty of indecent treatment and sexual assault of a minor, which were said to happened between 2013 and 2014.
The court said the prosecution successfully proved counts two and four – that he indecently placed her on his lap and rubbed his penis on her body. He was also found guilty of four offences.
Baba Ijesha was again accused of indecently touching the same minor and sexually assaulting her seven years later by rubbing her body and sucking her fingers.
But the judge found him not guilty of count one, which is allegedly sexually assaulting the minor by penetration with his car key seven years ago.
The court also found him not guilty of count 6, where he was accused of attempted sexual assault by penetration during another encounter with the minor in April 2021.
