The Court of Appeal in Lagos on Friday upheld the judgment of a Lagos court which sentenced actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly called Baba Ijesha, to five years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

On July 14, 2022, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court sentenced the movie star to five years imprisonment over the sexual assault of a 14-year-old, the foster daughter of comedienne Princess.

The judge convicted and sentenced him after he was found guilty on four counts out of six. The suit was filed by the Lagos State Government.

Ruling on the actor’s appeal, the appellate court found Baba Ijesha guilty on counts 4 and 5, where he was accused of indecently touching a minor and sexually assaulting her.

The court however set aside his conviction on indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault of a minor which the prosecution alleged occurred between 2013 and 2014.

The court held that the appellant voluntarily confessed to the crime and did not challenge the statement of the first prosecution witness, Damilola Adekoya, throughout the proceedings.