Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has opened up on why she fiercely supported comedienne Princess during the rape case involving fellow actor Baba Ijesha, revealing that her decision came from a deeply personal place and a refusal to stay silent.
In a candid episode of The Goldroom with Iyabo, the mother of two didn’t just revisit her public stance in the high-profile 2021 case. She relived the pain that fueled it. She admitted:
“I really didn’t control my emotions then because I was outraged by what happened.
“And I think it’s because I was also coming from that part, where I had gone through whatever she went through multiple times than hers and I just felt like enough is enough. We need to start speaking out for the girl and boy child.”
Iyabo Ojo’s voice was one of the loudest when news broke that Olanrewaju James, aka Baba Ijesha had allegedly molested Princess’s 14-year-old foster daughter.
The outrage reached a boiling point when CCTV footage emerged, showing him in a compromising position with the girl and sparking public backlash. But instead of everyone rallying behind the victim, Iyabo said what shocked her most was the victim-blaming and gaslighting, especially from adults. She continued:
“I was taken aback when I saw adults manipulating the story and even coming for the child and Princess, and that made me know we have a long way to go in Nigeria.”
Even worse, the fight for justice came at a personal cost. The actress was blacklisted by the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), which publicly warned members against working with her and fellow actress Nkechi Blessing, both of whom had taken strong stances against Baba Ijesha.
But to Iyabo, silence or neutrality wasn’t an option, especially not when children were involved. Iyabo Ojo said:
“You’ll notice when I kick, I kick when my fellow entertainers do wrong, because I feel like we are supposed to do right by our people.
“We cannot be preaching and doing the same bad thing that we’re telling people that is wrong, so for me it gets to me more when a known person does something wrong.”
Throughout the ordeal, Iyabo Ojo stood firmly beside Princess, attending court hearings, advocating on social media, and refusing to be bullied into silence. Her stance caused tension within the Yoruba film industry, but the 47-year-old insists she has no regrets.
“Justice for children should come before any loyalty to industry colleagues,” she said, drawing a line between friendship and accountability.
Iyabo Ojo’s voice has become one of the most consistent in speaking out against abuse and demanding justice in an industry often silent on such matters.
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