Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has sparked conversations following revelations about his experience in prison, describing incarceration as a painful period while making controversial claims about the power of prayers behind bars.
The actor shared his thoughts during an interview with Dele Adeyanju on Agabletu TV, where he reflected on his time in a correctional facility, the treatment of inmates and the lessons he believes young Nigerians should learn from his experience. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
Speaking about his time behind bars, Baba Ijesha described the experience as bitter, claiming that he was made a scapegoat because of his celebrity status.
He also advised young people to be more careful about their decisions and associations, warning that actions they might consider harmless could eventually have serious consequences.
According to him, prison life exposed him to realities that many people outside correctional facilities may never fully understand.
Reflecting on his experience, the actor explained that being a familiar face in the Nigerian entertainment industry did not earn him special treatment behind bars.
He alleged that some prison warders treated inmates harshly, claiming that certain officers were even more difficult to deal with than police personnel.
Baba Ijesha also expressed surprise at seeing influential and wealthy individuals serving time alongside other inmates.
He explained that prison conditions could make everyone experience similar hardships, regardless of their social standing, financial influence or public recognition.
The actor further called attention to the situation of inmates whom he believes may have been wrongly detained, urging government authorities, judges and lawyers to pay closer attention to their cases.
One of the most striking moments of the interview came when Baba Ijesha discussed the role of spirituality among inmates.
According to the actor, prison is a place where people turn to intense prayer because of the difficult circumstances they face.
He claimed that some inmates engage in extreme acts of prayer while seeking divine intervention over their cases, particularly those who maintain that they are innocent.
Explaining his position, he said:
“Do you know prison is where prayer answer most?”
He went on to describe how some inmates reportedly make desperate spiritual declarations, asking God to intervene if they are being punished for offences they did not commit.
The actor also made a controversial claim that some unexplained sudden deaths could be connected to the prayers of inmates.
However, he did not provide independently verifiable evidence to establish a connection between inmates’ prayers and such deaths.
His comments have drawn attention because of the unusual way he described the spiritual atmosphere inside Nigerian correctional facilities.
Beyond his comments about prison conditions and spirituality, the actor used the interview to warn young Nigerians about the importance of making responsible decisions.
He suggested that people should never underestimate the consequences of their actions, relationships and personal choices.
His advice comes from his own experience with the criminal justice system, which resulted in a prison sentence following his conviction in Lagos State.
The actor’s remarks have renewed public interest in his controversial legal history and the circumstances surrounding his incarceration.
Baba Ijesha’s imprisonment followed a high-profile sexual offences case involving a minor.
On July 14, 2022, a Lagos State High Court convicted him of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child, imposing concurrent prison sentences.
The actor challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal. In June 2024, the appellate court set aside some of the earlier convictions but upheld the convictions and sentences relating to the 2021 incidents.
His subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court was struck out in May 2025, while a later application seeking permission to file a fresh appeal was dismissed in October 2025.
The Lagos State Government subsequently clarified that his release was because he had completed the sentence upheld by the appellate court, not because he had been cleared of the offences.
The case remains one of the most widely discussed legal controversies involving a Nollywood actor.
Baba Ijesha’s latest interview has once again placed his prison experience in the spotlight, with his comments about prayer, prison conditions and the treatment of inmates generating fresh public interest.