Actress and media personality Biola Bayo has taken down her interview with Olarewaju Omiyinka, also known as Baba Ijesha from her Instagram page and YouTube channel following widespread backlash.

The interview, which featured Baba Ijesha speaking publicly about his past conviction, had drawn reactions from social media users who questioned the decision to host and publish the conversation.

As of the time of filing this report, Biola Bayo has not issued any statement explaining why the video was removed from her platforms.

The podcast began circulating online shortly after it was posted, quickly attracting attention because it was one of the actor’s most visible public appearances since his conviction.

In the interview, Baba Ijesha denied being a rapist or a paedophile, insisting that he was being misunderstood.

His comments sparked criticism from many Nigerians online, who argued that giving him a platform without strong challenge risked downplaying the seriousness of the case.

The situation escalated further after Baba Ijesha made claims about his past relationship with actress Iyabo Ojo. During the interview, he alleged that she had, at some point in the past, left her children in his care when they were younger.

The claim prompted a direct response from Iyabo Ojo, who took to her Instagram story to address the statement and warn the actor against involving her family in his narrative.

“I have no problem with you telling your side of the story,” she wrote. “But take this as a notice to cease and desist from using my children as your cheap bait.”

She rejected the claim, explaining that her children were always under the supervision of nannies or her late mother and were never left alone. She also noted that her business environment at the time included multiple staff members, making it unlikely that she would have personally handled errands in a way that exposed her children.

Ojo further stressed that her relationship with Baba Ijesha was strictly professional, describing him as a senior colleague and nothing more.

She also pointed back to the outcome of the legal case, stating: “The court found you guilty based on evidence, so please don’t drag my kids into this.”

The actress warned that she would take legal action if he continued to mention her children publicly.

The backlash appears to have been swift and sustained, with reactions focusing not only on Baba Ijesha’s comments but also on the decision to platform him at all.

The eventual removal of the video has since become part of the ongoing discussion, although no official reason has been given.

What happened

Baba Ijesha’s legal troubles began in 2021, when he was arrested over allegations of sexual assault involving a minor. The child was under the care of comedienne Princess the Comedian who brought the matter to public attention.

The case quickly gained national attention, particularly after video evidence surfaced, prompting outrage and debate across Nigeria.

He was subsequently charged to court, where the case was heard over several months. In 2022, a Lagos court found him guilty based on the evidence presented and sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment.

Following his conviction, Baba Ijesha filed an appeal challenging the judgment.

In a more recent development, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency confirmed that his name has been officially entered into the Lagos State Sex Offenders Register after he completed his jail term.

According to a statement shared on the agency’s official X handle, the move is in line with Section 37 of its law and is aimed at protecting minors while ensuring that accurate information is available to the public.

Baba Ijesha’s release, the recent interview, the backlash that followed, and its eventual removal have now brought the case back into public discussion.