Lagos – November 16, 2025 – Clarion Newschannel – In a dramatic turn for Nigeria’s entertainment scene, Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, walked free from Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison on Friday, November 14, 2025, after the Court of Appeal quashed key aspects of his 2022 conviction for the rape and sexual assault of a minor. The release, hailed by supporters as vindication, has reignited fierce debates, with accuser Damilola Adekola—stage-named Princess—lashing out at public backlash and urging caution around the actor.
Baba Ijesha, 52, had been sentenced to 16 years in July 2022 by a Lagos State High Court for the assault of a 14-year-old foster child of Princess, a fellow comedian and his former colleague. The case stemmed from a May 2021 incident where hidden cameras captured the actor engaging in sexual acts with the minor, whom he claimed he was “acting a script” for. The trial judge, Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, described the acts as “depraved,” noting the violation of trust in a concurrent five-year sentence for related charges. Baba Ijesha maintained his innocence throughout, alleging entrapment and procedural flaws, including claims that the victim had been groomed and that evidence like post-arrest DNA findings pointed elsewhere.
The appellate court’s ruling, delivered after over three years of appeals, overturned the conviction on grounds of evidentiary inconsistencies and judicial overreach, effectively clearing him of the core rape and defilement charges.Actor Yomi Fabiyi, a staunch ally who mobilized support during the trial, announced the freedom on Instagram, posting: “You are now officially free and out. Baba Ijesha is not just back but better… I am also happy you were cleared by the APPEAL COURT of ever having sex/defile any child/minor. The 7-year-old story is a charade. A viral video captured Baba Ijesha’s first moments outside, seated in a vehicle and speaking in Yoruba about his ordeal, expressing gratitude amid visible emotion.
Princess, whose home hosted the alleged assault during a scripted reenactment of her own past trauma, has faced vitriolic online attacks post-release, with some labeling her accusations a “setup. In response, she issued a stark warning on social media: “Baba Ijesha has a documented history of predatory behaviour. Please stay cautious… I want to urge the department of justice to publish Baba Ijesha’s name in the sex offenders register. In the next one month Baba Ijesha will do to someone else. He’s done it to adults, children, dwarfs. Her plea highlighted the minor’s alleged grooming since 2020 and called out unprosecuted co-accused, including security guard Damola Adekola, as enablers. On X, reactions split sharply: supporters like @hausatracks celebrated “justice served” with videos of the release, while critics echoed Princess’s fears, posting threads on predatory patterns and setup risks.
In a separate Nollywood storm, Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North) confirmed on Saturday the authenticity of leaked medical reports alleging severe substance abuse by his estranged wife, actress Regina Daniels, amid escalating marital woes tied to her age at marriage. The 35-year-old star, married to the 64-year-old lawmaker since 2019 when she was 20, has been at the center of a public feud involving abuse claims, property disputes, and now toxicology findings.
The reports, from facilities including Serenity Royale Hospital in Abuja and Nizamiye Hospital, detail Daniels testing positive for dangerously high levels of cocaine, marijuana, morphine, opiates, and alcohol. A September 24, 2025, detox program was initiated after a psychological emergency on September 23, when Daniels reportedly hadn’t slept for 48 hours and exhibited aggression. October 3, she was rushed unconscious to Nizamiye Hospital from a drug overdose, per the documents. The rehab center noted minimal progress due to ongoing access to substances, allegedly supplied by siblings who “openly stated that they do not see anything wrong in giving her alcohol and weed.
Nwoko’s office, in a two-part statement signed by his Communication Team Lead, defended the disclosures as a last resort after failed private interventions, emphasizing concern for Daniels’ health and their two sons.Must we wait until Regina reaches a point of irreversible harm before we support her, encourage her to stop substance abuse, and help her commit to rehabilitation?” it questioned, offering to fund treatment abroad in Jordan or South Africa. The senator linked her “recent decisions” to instability, amid Daniels’ October 18 video alleging domestic abuse and thugs sent by Nwoko. Hospitals denied leaking the files but upheld their validity, citing confidentiality.
Daniels has not publicly responded to the confirmation, though she previously admitted past drug use without tying it to marital roots. On X, the saga trends with posts from @DailyPostNGR and @TheNationNews amplifying Nwoko’s alarm, while users debate enabling factors and age-gap controversies—Daniels’ youth at marriage fueling “predatory” whispers. Summaries circulate, like @Nimisioluwa’s: “November came with different chaos,” capturing the blend of sympathy and scrutiny.
As Baba Ijesha eyes a comeback and Daniels’ crisis unfolds, Nollywood grapples with accountability, addiction, and the spotlight’s glare.
Clarion Newschannel: Illuminating the stories that shape us—updates as they break.
Nollywood Shake-Up: Baba Ijesha Freed After Appeal Overturns Rape Conviction; Daniels’ Substance Abuse Reports Confirmed Amid Nwoko Marriage Turmoil
