Entertainment
Sexual assault: Iyabo Ojo, Yomi Fabiyi reacts to Baba Ijesha’s 16-year jail term
Eunice Oluwafunmilayo
Nollywood stars, Iyabo Ojo and Yomi Fabiyi has reacted as court convicted their colleague Baba Ijesha for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old minor and sentenced to 16-year imprisonment.
The verdict was laid down on the convicted actor in a two-hour judgment presided by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday.
The troubled actor was detained by the police months ago after it was claimed that he had molested a young girl who is the foster daughter of well-known Nigerian comedian, Princess.
Iyabo Ojo backed Princess in her call for justice soon after the scandalous actor’s crime was made public.
Iyabo Ojo, in response to the verdict, asserted that it represents a win for mistreated children.
READ ALSO: Comedienne Princess Celebrates Baba Ijesha 16-year jail term
She wrote: “We give God all the glory…. This victory is for all the girl child & boy child being abused….. Never be AFRAID to Speak up & Speak out.”(sic)
In the comments section of a post written by Princess, the victim’s foster mother, the prolific actress expressed her opinions.
Princess was caught on a street with a praise music playing in the background as she posted to her Instagram account while wearing a white, flowing religious garment. The comedian wrote as his caption: “God is not man.”
Meanwhile, shortly after the court judgement, Yomi Fabiyi, noted that Baba Ijesha is entitled to an appeal.
Yomi said; “My name is Yomi Fabiyi and like I always tell people, a fair trial, fair hearing is part of human rights and in this case, we can understand that the Lagos state government allowed that the victim, the defendant and the public have their rights protected, the defendant argues that he is not guilty and we need to understand the fact that if he is not guilty then he has the right of appealing, it is still within his statutory right, so the fact that on some charges he was guilty and some he is not guilty, that is what we are calling a proper democratic society.
“So, we should allow the defendant to exercise his fundamental human rights which are going to appeal if necessary to challenge the ruling of this court. There is no point in denying a colleague, others can choose to deny him but I will not and what I am fighting for is the rights of everybody involved, the victim, the defendant and the public.”
Six witnesses for the prosecution testified against the actor during the trial of Baba Ijesha, and of the six charges brought against him, he was found guilty on four of them.
Controversial Nigerian singer Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington or Akpi, has been released from Kuje Prison following a court directive.
Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju disclosed this development on Tuesday, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “Speed Darlington is out of Kuje Prison.”
The singer’s release came after an Abuja court granted him bail. This decision followed intense public pressure on the Nigeria Police Force, which led to his arraignment.
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Prior to his release, Speed Darlington had petitioned Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Intelligence Bureau, DIG Dasuki Galadanchi, over his prolonged detention. He called on the DIG to comply with a court order directing his release or formal arraignment.
Justice M.S. Liman had earlier issued an order on December 23, 2024, mandating the police to charge the singer within 48 hours or release him unconditionally.
Speed Darlington’s arrest stemmed from allegations he made against Grammy Award-winning singer Burna Boy. The singer accused Burna Boy of being involved in an immoral relationship with embattled U.S. rapper and music executive Sean Combs, also known as P. Diddy.
The situation has sparked widespread discussions, with many Nigerians expressing relief at Speed Darlington’s freedom while others continue to debate the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Dele Odule, has opened up about the most heartbreaking moment of his life, revealing it was when he lost his first child.
The 63-year-old Yoruba movie icon shared the emotional experience during an interview with his colleague, Kunle Afod, recounting how the loss deeply affected him, especially given the challenges surrounding the child’s birth.
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Odule described the tragic news as “very hard” to bear, adding that he has since come to accept it as the will of God. Despite the acceptance, the actor expressed his fervent hope never to endure such a devastating tragedy again.
He said, “The saddest moment of my life was when I was called that my first child died. It was very hard on me. It was hard because of the situation faced during the child’s birth, but no one can question God’s authority. It was so bad that I don’t pray for it anymore.”
Known for his roles in classic Yoruba films, Odule continues to share both his professional and personal experiences, endearing himself to fans and colleagues alike.
In early January 2025, Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy fulfilled a promise by gifting $30,000 to Bethel Okechukwu, a phone repairer from Alaba Market who had claimed to be related to socialite Cubana Chief Priest.
This act of generosity occurred amid an ongoing feud between Burna Boy and the Cubana Chief Priest.
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Following the donation, Cubana Chief Priest clarified that Bethel Okechukwu is not his brother, stating, “I have only one biological big brother & two kid sisters. They ain’t doing so bad.” He emphasized that he is not obligated to support his siblings financially and urged the public to verify such claims.
As of now, there are no credible reports indicating that Burna Boy instructed Bethel Okechukwu to take any specific actions towards Cubana Chief Priest after receiving the $30,000. The narrative appears to be centered around Burna Boy’s charitable gesture and Cubana Chief Priest’s subsequent clarification regarding his familial relationships.
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