Nigerian women’s rights activist Esther Ijewere has stirred public debate after openly calling out entertainment figures who showed up at an event linked to actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, widely known as Baba Ijesha.
Her remarks quickly drew attention online, reigniting conversations around accountability, public support, and ethics within the Nigerian entertainment space, according to Legit News. Ijewere expressed dissatisfaction with industry colleagues choosing to associate with the embattled comic actor at a public gathering.
The development has once again placed the spotlight on Baba Ijesha, a veteran Yoruba Nollywood actor who was arrested in April 2021. In July 2022, an Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos convicted the performer of multiple offences, including indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault by penetration involving a 14-year-old girl. Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo sentenced him to concurrent prison terms spanning up to five years.
Ijewere has built a reputation over the years as a campaigner against sexual and gender-based violence. As the founder of the Rubies Ink Initiative for Women and Children and the coordinator of the Walk Against Rape campaign, she has frequently challenged institutional tolerance towards individuals convicted or accused of sexual abuse.
Public reactions to her latest comments remain sharply divided. While several social media users supported her position, arguing that celebrities should uphold higher moral responsibility and avoid rehabilitating public figures convicted of serious offences, others maintained that individuals possess the right to relate with colleagues regardless of past controversies.
