The troubles of popular actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, better known as Baba Ijesa are far from being over as over 7,500 persons have signed a petition to prevent his release.
The embattled actor is in police detention following his arrest for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old foster child of popular comedienne, Princess Adekola Adekanya.
Baba Ijesa reportedly defiled the girl when she was seven about 7 years ago. Princess said she became aware of this recently and set up a sting operation, complete with CCTV cameras and the actor fell for it.
A petition to prevent the release of the embattled actor was started by the Aunt Landa’s Bethel Foundation, on behalf of the teenager’s foster mother, Princess.
The petition entitled, ‘Olanrewaju James Omiyinka must not be released in Nigeria for defiling a 7 years old girl’ was initiated a few days ago when rumours were flying around that moves were being made to release the actor.
As of Monday morning, the petition portal domiciled on www.change.org had attracted over 7,600 signatories.
Princess said in the petition, “Truly he defiled her in my sitting room years ago when I went downstairs to lock the gate after my aunt who had come to console me on the collapse of my marriage and loss of baby (her other siblings had gone out to play at the end of the street). She said after cleaning certain liquid (we suspect was sperm and blood) from her bum and his body, he warned her not to tell anyone and that it was nothing.”
Baba Ijesa’s tempest started with the announcement of his arrest for alleged sexual defilement by the police on April 22, 2021.
The scandal has polarised Nollywood, with a handful of Baba Ijesa’s colleagues, such as Yomi Fabiyi and Bukky Black standing by him.
Overwhelming majority, including notables such as Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh have expressed their support for the victim and her parents. They have also openly opposed any move to release Baba Ijesa now.
