Convicted Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has described prison as a place where prayers are answered most, claiming that some sudden deaths are connected to the prayers and curses of inmates.
The actor made the claims during an interview with Dele Adeyanju on Agabletu TV, shared on the station’s YouTube channel on Sunday.
Speaking about his experience in prison following his release, Baba Ijesha described the period as bitter, alleging that he was made a scapegoat because of his celebrity status.
“Youth should be careful in their dealings. What you think may not lead to prison may land you in prison,” he said.
Asked to describe his experience behind bars, the actor simply replied, “Bitter.”
He added, “Bitter because I was a scapegoat. Do you know, many want people to learn a lesson from celebrities.”
Baba Ijesha said his celebrity status did not earn him special treatment in prison, adding that some correctional officers were even harsher than police officers.
“Some warders are more wicked than police. Those in offices are different. There are some that deal with criminals. They don’t know who is celebrity. They don’t listen to the radio or pay attention to anything,” he said.
The actor also recounted encountering wealthy and influential individuals behind bars, noting that prison life placed everyone on the same level, regardless of their social standing.
He further alleged that many inmates were being detained despite having little or no evidence against them.
“There are about 65 per cent there that are innocent. There is a guy there called No Case,” he claimed.
Appealing to the government, judges and lawyers to pay attention to the circumstances surrounding some inmates’ detention, he urged authorities to listen to their stories and review their cases.
“Some of you judges and lawyers, you need to listen to their stories and see what is happening. There are many people in that situation,” he said.
Explaining his position on the power of prayers in correctional facilities, Baba Ijesha said some inmates resorted to extreme forms of prayer while seeking divine intervention over their circumstances.
“Do you know prison is where prayer answer most?” he asked.
He continued, “People are praying in prison. People will continue praying until they pick a stone and use it to cut themselves till blood is coming out. The person will lick the blood and tell God, ‘If I am guilty of offence I am here for, let this and this happen to me. But if I don’t know anything about it…’”
He subsequently linked some unexplained deaths to what he described as the spiritual consequences of inmates’ prayers.
“Many sudden deaths are from prison, and they don’t use knives. It is the power of prayer,” he alleged.
The actor illustrated his claim with the story of an inmate he said was nicknamed ‘No Case’, alleging that the individual who secured the man’s detention later apologised before dying. He, however, said the inmate remained in prison.
Baba Ijesha’s comments come against the backdrop of his conviction over the sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child.
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja sentenced him in July 2022 to concurrent prison terms of five years and three years over offences arising from a 2021 incident.
Although the Court of Appeal set aside some of the earlier convictions, it upheld the sexual assault conviction. The Lagos State Government subsequently clarified that the actor was not acquitted but released after serving his sentence. His name was also included in the state’s sex offenders’ register.
In a March 23, 2026 interview with Yinka Ayefele on Fresh FM, Baba Ijesha rejected descriptions of himself as a paedophile and rapist.
He alleged that he was lured with food and money under the guise of a movie role by actress Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess, and claimed that he was set up.
“I am not a paedophile, I am not a rapist. It was destiny that punished me,” he had said, adding that he intended to present his version of events in an upcoming movie.
