After months of silence and a whirlwind of conflicting reports, Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James (Baba Ijesha) is finally out of prison, bringing an end to his incarceration.
The comic actor was freed on November 14, 2025, after an Appeal Court ruling secured his release.
Despite this victory, findings by Per Second News indicate that his freedom has paradoxically opened a new chapter of doubt and apprehension within his camp, rather than immediate celebration.
His longtime ally, actor Yomi Fabiyi, confirmed the development in an emotional Instagram post, declaring Baba Ijesha “officially free and out,” and insisting that the Appeal Court “cleared him of ever having sex or defiling any minor.”
But while Fabiyi and a few industry friends are celebrating, the larger public reaction has been far more complicated.
The controversial nature of the case, one that that seems to polarised Nollywood, women’s rights groups, and the public means Baba Ijesha’s return is not without shadows.
Reliable sources within the legal circle said the matter remains legally tangled, as earlier judgments had affirmed parts of his sentence, leaving many Nigerians confused over whether his newfound freedom amounts to a full acquittal, a sentence completion, or a technical release.
Even more, a viral narrative claiming that a top Yoruba monarch secured his freedom was swiftly debunked by fact-checkers, further complicating the public’s understanding of what truly happened behind closed doors.
For Baba Ijesha himself, information pieced together believed the road ahead is anything but smooth.
The once-popular comic actor now faces the daunting task of rebuilding a shattered career in an industry that has largely distanced itself from him.
Some producers may feel uncomfortable being associated with his name for now, while others fear public backlash if they cast him.
Beyond professional hurdles, friends close to the actor say he is quietly confronting the emotional and psychological weight of the scandal amid the trial, the media storm, the loss of reputation, and now the pressure of navigating life after incarceration.
But, the actor is said to be hopeful.
“He wants to start afresh, but he also knows the world he left behind is not the same one he’s returning to,” a source said.
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