The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has upheld the five-year prison sentence handed to Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, by the Lagos State High Court. Baba Ijesha was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, the appellate court affirmed Baba Ijesha’s guilt on counts 4 and 5, which involved indecently touching and sexually assaulting a minor.

However, the court overturned his convictions on charges related to the indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault that allegedly occurred between 2013 and 2014.

The appellate court noted that Baba Ijesha had voluntarily confessed to the crime and did not contest the testimony of the prosecution witness, Damilola Adekoya, during the trial.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retired) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court initially sentenced Baba Ijesha on July 14, 2022. He was found guilty on four out of six counts in case number ID/14623C/2021, brought against him by the Lagos State government.