LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Olanrewaju James Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, is once again in the spotlight, drawing both criticism and support for different reasons among online users.
This time, the Nigerian actor is not in the news for a film role or comedy scene, but for something deeply personal that has reopened old wounds online.
It all began after he recently announced the birth of his son, King Kagar, with celebrity fashion designer Abiodun Folashade Tokunbo, widely known as Luminee.
The news came through videos and photos shared online, the kind that would normally attract celebration and goodwill messages.
Instead, it did the opposite. The internet did not fully celebrate. It split.
Before the congratulations even settled, Nigerians dragged the conversation back to the case that changed everything.
Baba Ijesha’s troubles began in 2021 after comedienne and actress Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess, noticed something disturbing about her foster child’s behaviour.
According to reports from the case, the young girl, then 14 had developed a strong dislike towards the actor and his movies.
When questioned by her foster mother, she reportedly opened up about years of abuse and threats from the actor meant to keep her silent.
Princess did not treat it as child’s play or a mere suspicion to ignore. She moved differently and planned a calculated sting operation to catch him redhanded.
She arranged for security professionals to install hidden CCTV cameras inside her home where the actor was a regular welcomed guest.
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At a moment when she pretended to be away and the actor was present, the surveillance system reportedly captured Baba Ijesha engaging in inappropriate physical contact with the minor, a recorded act that later became central to the case.
That footage changed everything.
Baba Ijesha was arrested in 2021 and later convicted in 2022 on multiple counts of sexual assault and child indecency.
He was sentenced to 16 years in prison to run concurrently, meaning the terms were served at the same time.
He was eventually released in November 2025 after spending over four years in custody, with the court upholding the conviction tied to the 2021 incident while dropping some older charges on procedural grounds.
So yes, Baba Ijesha served time and is now a registered sex offender. But the public argument clearly did not end there.
Back to the present.
No one can say for sure when the actor and Luminee got married, infact their relationship became public after the announcement of their son’s birth.
The birth announcement immediately became a cultural trigger. Some congratulated him. Many questioned everything. Others simply reopened the old case file in their minds and refused to separate the man from the memory.
At the centre of it all is his wife and new mother, Luminee.
Critics questioned how she could willingly build a family with someone still strongly associated with a sexual offence conviction, especially just seven months after his release.
To them, it felt like society was being asked to forgive, forget, and move on too quickly.
Others pushed back hard, saying the heart chose who it wants and cannot be denied.
They argued that a person who has served a sentence should not be permanently erased from normal life, especially in matters that are now personal and private.
Then came the celebrities, and the divide only deepened.
Videos from a surprise baby shower organized by Nollywood actress and producer Eniola Ajao circulated online, showing Mercy Aigbe, Olayinka Solomon, and others celebrating Luminee, alongside gifts and reported N1 million cash support.
That was enough to ignite another round of backlash.
Actress, Regina Chukwu didn’t hold back in defence of the celebration when she said, “Wait, so now he should be condemned and cancelled for the rest of his life??? He has served his sentence! What exactly do you people want from them again?”
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Annie McCaulay also stepped in on the side of restraint, saying, “She congratulated a newborn guys, how is that a problem? Why are people overreacting over another person’s affairs? I don’t support the act, but you all should stop judging people without concrete evidence. So he shouldn’t move on, right?”
But not everyone was convinced.
Fellow actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday described the situation as unsettling, stressing that public celebration in cases tied to children should not be taken lightly.
“This development is shocking… some people are always quick to dismiss concerns, but at least some of us prioritize safety over associations with such individuals. It seems some people have lost their sense of judgment,” she said.
Controversial musician Portable echoed public skepticism regarding the timeline of the pregnancy, suggesting that the birth date appeared inconsistent with official records of the actor’s release.
BBN Angel Smith also questioned the idea of starting a family with someone convicted of such offences, pointing to the need for stronger caution when children are involved.
“The decision for a woman to have a child with this person is difficult to understand. History provides lessons that should not be ignored. There is a profound need for protection over the children involved in these dynamics,” the media personality stated.
Spreading further, discussions on popular blogs like Instablog9ja and Linda Ikeji featured critical comments about industry peers supporting the celebrations.
Critics maintained that the high-profile festivities appeared insensitive to victims and downplayed the seriousness of the court’s findings.
Then came the internet itself, the loudest courtroom of all.
And this time, it was not one voice.
Some users went straight to suspicion.
As @mummy_kaira_na_kaito put it, “She probably didn’t have the baby this month… she was already very heavy in videos months ago. They should come and explain.”
@theangeljbsmith was bluntly moral, posting, “How can you as a woman have a child with someone who did this to a child? God help us not lose sense of judgment.”
A different group took a softer stance, urging the new mother who already has a 13-year-old daughter to exercise caution.
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@tolanigoodness_ stated, “As long as you’re happy… and your daughter is safe,” while @learnwithjudith added, “Whatever you’re doing with that man in the name of love, protect your daughter and your assets.”
What stands out is not just disagreement, but what people are actually fighting over.
This is no longer just about Baba Ijesha and his very recent past.
It is about whether society ever truly allows someone to return after conviction. It is about whether forgiveness is personal, or collective.
It is about whether a completed sentence ends a story or simply changes how loudly it is retold.
Because while the law may close a case file, the public court rarely closes its own.
And in moments like this, Nigeria is not debating a baby announcement.
It is debating a fresh memory, morality, and who gets to decide when a past finally becomes a past.
In the end, the conversation stretches far beyond one announcement or one public figure.
It sits in the uneasy space between law and emotion, where official records say one thing, public sentiment says another, and silence fills the gap between both.
The reactions may fade from timelines, but the questions they raise rarely disappear with the trend.
