Actor Yomi Fabiyi has accused fellow performer Olanrewaju "Baba Ijesha" James of betraying him following Baba Ijesha's release from prison in November 2025. Fabiyi claims he led protests and produced the film "Oko Iyabo" to support Baba Ijesha's appeal after the comic actor was sentenced to 16 years in July 2022 by an Ikeja Special Offences Court for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. After serving three years, Baba Ijesha was released, though the Lagos State Government clarified he was not exonerated and remains on the state's sex offenders register.
In a viral video, Fabiyi expressed deep disappointment, stating he sacrificed his reputation and personal stability to defend Baba Ijesha. He alleged that Baba Ijesha secretly instructed someone to threaten him into silence about the case, sharing that he received a voice note from a third party as proof. Fabiyi said he endured public backlash, including embarrassment at the American Embassy, for supporting a man now accused of repaying loyalty with hostility.
Baba Ijesha has since released a song titled "Eniwaye Dáràn" and given interviews asserting his innocence, but he did not acknowledge Fabiyi's role in the campaign for his release. The Lagos State Government has warned against spreading misinformation, specifically countering claims that Baba Ijesha was cleared of the charges.
Yomi Fabiyi's public breakdown over Baba Ijesha's perceived betrayal lays bare the emotional toll of celebrity activism when moral support clashes with legal reality. Fabiyi, who staked his reputation on a campaign to free a man convicted of sexually assaulting a minor, now finds himself isolated—not just by the person he defended, but by the truth of the judicial outcome. His claim of being threatened through a third party adds a disturbing layer, suggesting that the fight to reshape public perception may have crossed into personal intimidation.
The case exposes how celebrity influence can distort accountability, especially when legal facts are overshadowed by narrative campaigns. Despite Baba Ijesha's release, the Lagos State Government explicitly stated he was not exonerated, remains on the sex offenders register, and that claims otherwise are false. Yet Fabiyi continued promoting the idea of innocence, placing himself at odds with official records and risking public trust. His assertion that he "fought against rape" while championing a convicted sex offender reveals a troubling contradiction in messaging.
Ordinary Nigerians who follow such cases closely are left navigating a fog of conflicting claims, where emotional appeals often drown out judicial clarity. Families of abuse survivors may feel retraumatised by efforts to rehabilitate the image of someone still legally recognised as an offender. Activists who genuinely advocate for victims now face credibility challenges when high-profile figures blur the lines between compassion and denial.
This episode fits a growing pattern where celebrity status is leveraged to rewrite narratives post-conviction, regardless of legal outcomes. It underscores how public sympathy can be manipulated, not through evidence, but through songs, films, and emotional testimonials that bypass facts altogether.
