By Elizabeth Akinteye
A prominent and veteran Nollywood figure, Chief Deji Aderemi popularly known as Baba Olofaana has narrated how he and some other prominent figures in the acting industry were disgraced by the controversial actress, Iyabo Ojo over Baba Ijesha alleged sexual assault saga.
The Ede born theatre practitioner, while speaking with journalists at Ikeja Special Court where Baba Ijesha was arraigned, disclosed that he (Olofaana) and some other prominent members in the industry have attempted to prevail on the matter before it escalates.
According to the veteran actor, “I have called her (Iyabo) personally as a father to daughter because she is the one fueling the matter based on the viral videos. Other people too have called her, Mama Rainbow, Olaiya Igwe, Ajala have all called her but she refused.
“Imagine Iyabo Ojo telling me if I can accept what happened if it were to be my daughter, she said ‘baba e bole nbe’ and cut me off the phone.”
While speaking on why he was in the Court, Baba Olofaana, said he was in the Court to witness how the proceeding will go, adding that he wished the embattled Baba Ijesha was released.
He said that the sexual assault incident is not a strange thing in the industry and it is not peculiar to the entertainment industry alone, however, disclosed that they know how they prevail on it when it happened.
Chief Aderemi, however, revealed that even Iyabo Ojo, who is championing this, and several other female actresses can not deny that she had been involved in several sexual scandals and were prevented from going into the public.
He said that though Baba Ijesha is not a member of the association, Theatre Arts and Motions Pictures Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) , but he is a known figure in the industry and, therefore, prompted their attention to intervene in the matter.
Baba Olofaana condemned the alleged sexual assault levelled on Baba Ijesha, he, however, maintained that there is more to the incident between him (Baba Ijesha) and Princess.
“We came here to see he is released, we acknowledged he also has his bad habit too which is drinking but he doesn’t steal or misbehave. If not, there is more to it between the two,” Baba Olofaana said.
