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Baba Ijesha Marks One Year In Prison, 15 More To Go

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A popular and embattled actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, who was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for child defilement, has spent one year of his prison term at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State.

He was convicted of the crime on July 14, 2022, and was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment on four of the six-count charge—indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration— preferred against him.

Recall that James was arrested on April 22, 2021, and first appeared before Magistrate P.E. Nwaka of the Yaba Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos, on July 16, 2021.

The actor was later arraigned at the Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, who eventually delivered the judgment. While reading her judgment, she said,

“I hereby find the defendant guilty of count two to five, and he is discharged of counts one and six. The defendant is here by sentenced to five years imprisonment for count two, three years for count three, five years for count four, and three years for count five.”

The case generated a lot of attention and controversies. It also ‘divided’ the entertainment industry as some celebs supported comedian, Princess Adekoya, whose ward was the one defiled; while some empathised with Baba Ijesha.

Some of the people who were sympathetic to Baba Ijesha’s plight were Yomi Fabiyi, Bukky Black, and Lege Miami. On his part, Fabiyi maintained that the actor was ‘ambushed’ into the crime.

On the other hand, actresses, such as Iyabo Ojo Nkechi Blessing, vehemently supported Princess.

In an interview with our correspondent during the week, Fabiyi said, “First, it is difficult for me to deny knowing him. My non-governmental organisation decided to hear his side, do our own little investigation, and what we found out required us to give him a voice, as it looked like he was ‘ambushed into that misfortune’.

“There were too many questions begging for answers, as could be seen at the end of the trial, hence the appeal.”

Maintaining that he had been in constant communication with the beleaguered actor since he was committed to prison, Fabiyi said, “My first visit started from the second day he was sentenced to prison. I also ensure that I regular communicate with him in prison.”

He added, “I am not in shoes, but I am trying my best to keep his spirits high and get him not to think of suicide or any vendetta. When his father died (on May 13, 2023), it was a difficult moment.

“However, he is still bothered that the age of the girl was not proven with a birth certificate. The absence of some factors before a guilty verdict was passed gives him serious mental agony. He feels he has been unjustly punished.”

Most times during the trial, when Baba Ijesha appeared in court, he usually looked morose and dejected. On a particular day, he was seen clutching a Christian book titled, ‘How to Thrive in Perilous Times: Living Beyond the World System,’ written by Happy Caldwell.

 

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Rotimi Salami In Tears As ‘Kilanko’ Struggles At Box Office

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Nollywood actor and producer Rotimi Salami recently expressed deep concern over the poor performance and low audience turnout for his latest film, “Kilanko,” in Nigerian cinemas.

The movie, which hit theaters on March 6, 2026, was a labor of love that took three years to produce and was directed by the late Allwell Ademola.

In an Instagram post, Salami, in a video with veteran actress Yetunde Wunmi, revealed that the movie’s weekend sales were disappointing, putting it at risk of removal from theaters.

Appealing to fans for support, Salami thanked those who attended promotional events and screenings, but acknowledged that the turnout was lower than expected.

He warned that if sales do not improve by the weekend, the film may be pulled from cinemas prematurely.

He wrote, “I am making this post with a heavy heart. Kilanko sales at the cinemas last weekend weren’t good. That’s why I couldn’t post throughout yesterday.

“Still, I say a very big thank you to everyone who came out at different times for the meet-and-greet, and likewise to everyone who came out to watch, but the numbers are pretty small.

“If Kilanko doesn’t make the expected figure by this weekend. It might be kicked out of the cinemas even before Ramadan is over. Please, we need all the support we can get to reach a retainable figure.

“Kilanko is surely a beautiful movie that everyone must see. Thank you, mama @yetunde_wunmi_ for the prayers”.

 

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Gospel Artiste Taiwo Adegbodu Of Adegbodu Twins Passes On

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Taiwo Adegbodu, one half of the popular Nigerian gospel duo Adegbodu Twins, has passed away.

The tragic news was officially confirmed by his twin brother and musical partner, Kehinde Adegbodu, through a heartfelt post on the duo’s official Facebook handle.

In a heartfelt post, Kehinde conveyed his profound grief over the loss of both his brother and ministry partner.

He wrote: “TAIWO, why will you leave me and your kids without notification?
My heart is bleeding, Lord how do you want me to cope without him?
God why? This is too much for me to bear!!!”

Taiwo and Kehinde Adegbodu were renowned in gospel circles for their spirited worship sessions, twin-stage performances, and dynamic ministrations, which resonated with churches and Christian gatherings across Nigeria.

Their music and live performances earned them a devoted following, particularly in the South-West region.

As of the time of this report, the cause of Taiwo Adegbodu’s death and details of his funeral arrangements have not been disclosed.

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TikTok Star Peller Escapes Unhurt After Fire Guts Generator At Lagos Mansion

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Nigerian TikTok star and livestreamer Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller has narrowly escaped a fire incident at his new Lagos home in the early hours of Saturday.

The incident centered on his generator, which caught fire and was completely engulfed in flames.

Peller shared footage of the blaze on his Instagram page, appearing visibly shaken and calling for help as the fire raged.

The blaze, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, was eventually extinguished with buckets of water. While the generator was completely destroyed, the house and its occupants were unharmed.

In the footage, Peller appears visibly shaken as he calls for assistance to put out the flames.

He captioned the post, “This happen early this morning, my new generator almost burn down my new house, but God saved us, it take us over 30 minutes to off the fire, All I can say is God saved us”.

Fans and followers expressed relief in the comment section, attributing quick intervention for the fortunate outcome.

The incident followed a previous scare involving Peller on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, where he crashed his vehicle during a livestream.

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