Nollywood actor Baba Ijesha and his wife, CEO Luminee, have sparked controversy on social media after a video of them sharing a passionate kiss at their son’s naming ceremony surfaced online.
Latest: Baba Ijesha Reopens Controversial Child Sexual Abuse Case, Insists He Was Falsely Accused
Key Highlights
- A video of Baba Ijesha and his wife, CEO Luminee, kissing at their son’s naming ceremony has gone viral.
- Their son was named King Kagar Omiyinka.
- Nollywood stars including Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko and Foluke Daramola attended.
- Many users on X criticised the celebration, citing the actor’s 2022 conviction for sexually assaulting a minor.
- Others argued he should be allowed to move on after serving his sentence.
The couple recently celebrated the naming ceremony of their son, King Kagar Omiyinka, who was born earlier this year.
They arrived at the event in matching outfits and were joined by several Nollywood stars, including Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko, Yetunde Wunmi, Laide Bakare, Wunmi Ajiboye, Foluke Daramola, Olaiya Igwe and Sikiratu Sindodo.
However, rather than focusing solely on the celebration, users on X turned their attention to the actor’s past conviction for sexual assault, with many questioning why he was receiving such an elaborate public celebration.
Baba Ijesha, whose real name is James Olarewaju, was convicted in 2022 over the sexual assault of a minor and was released from prison in late 2025.
His past conviction has continued to generate public debate, with the latest controversy exposing divisions over whether he should be welcomed and celebrated after serving his sentence.
Nigerians React
Reacting to the viral video, an X user, @BruudaJohn, expressed anger over the reception given to the actor, describing him as a known sex offender.
The user wrote: “A known sex offender ‘JAMES OLAREWAJU’ popularly knows as BABA IJESHA who’s registered in the public list of Lagos state government is the one you people all refined and gave pumps and pageantry like this?, what am I even saying ?, we give useless people so much attention and that’s why the country is like this.
“The stigma of his offense should still remain with him and not whitewash in this sense but we’re so mediocre in this part of the world.
“To the myopic ones that will come say ‘he served his time in jail’ i don’t care and have zero forgiveness for people like this.”
Similarly, @morgan4life101 argued that serving a prison sentence did not erase the actor’s conviction.
The user wrote: “The Attorney-General explicitly clarified that he was not exonerated or cleared of those convictions, and his status as a convicted offender remains on record.”
Another user, @callmenori, criticised the elaborate celebration, writing, “They gave him the full pageantry treatment like the register doesn’t even exist.”
Read also:
- Baba Ijesha Reopens Controversial Child Sexual Abuse Case, Insists He Was Falsely Accused
- Baba Ijesha’s Wife, Luminee, Shares Throwback Photo Amid Online Reactions
- Baba Ijesha Sparks Outrage After Calling Mr. Latin An ‘Opportunist’ Over Alleged Prison Snub
‘He Served His Time’
Meanwhile, @Dagreatdey4you questioned whether the actor should be denied the opportunity to celebrate personal milestones after serving his sentence.
The user asked, “@grok as a sex offender and already serve his jail.. Does has has right to celebrate things of joy? I know you also have the right call him out on your page too.”
However, @olaman took a different position, questioning why Baba Ijesha should continue to face criticism after serving his sentence.
The user wrote, “Wait i thought this man have been jailed for his offense na, dont we have pastors who openly say they use to be killers or cultist once in their life and nobody say anything.”
Other reactions were even more critical of the actor’s wife, with some accusing her of helping to improve his public image despite his past.
@Ebube572021 wrote, “The man just used the woman whitewash all his doing and Ilove him for what he is doing,since the woman no get sense.”
Another user, @William19Prisca, expressed disappointment over the woman’s decision to remain with him, making a disturbing prediction about their family.
The user wrote, “I’m so ashamed on behalf of this his wife! I said it here first, in the next coming years he will still do the same thing to one of their kids or any child living around them and if his no longer with her, she’ll come online to drag him! Just watch, women like this are dubious!”
The controversy has also generated sympathy for the couple from some social media users, who believe that serving a prison sentence should allow a convicted person to move forward with life, while others insist that the seriousness of the offence should not be forgotten.
The naming ceremony featured traditional celebrations, with Aso Ebi outfits reportedly sold for N250,000 for men and N350,000 for women.
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