Comedian and actress Princess has strongly criticised her colleague Biola Adebayo over her interview with convicted actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, accusing her of being insensitive, cruel and deliberately causing pain to the family of a child sexual assault victim.
Princess, whose foster daughter was the victim in the Baba Ijesha case, expressed her anger in a video posted on Instagram on Tuesday, questioning why someone who identifies as a rape survivor would give a platform to a convicted offender to make comments about the victim’s family.
“You said you have also been a victim of rape. Would you, Biola, be confident if the person you claimed raped you — because I’m going to use ‘claim’ now — went on TV many years after assaulting you and starts casting aspersions on your family, saying Biola lied? How would you feel? Would you feel good?” Princess said.
She accused Adebayo of acting out of personal gain, suggesting that the interview was driven by the desire for views and engagement rather than concern for the victim and her family.
“Since it’s not you and it’s not your child, it’s okay. Since it’s for views and it’s for money, it’s okay. Since it’s something that will bring people to your page, to your channel, it’s okay. You didn’t stop to think that the child in question is the child of a colleague and an acquaintance,” she said.
Princess also revealed that she and her family have been subjected to persistent online harassment since the interview was released, noting that the trolling and abusive messages have been overwhelming.
“Since that video you did came out, people have continuously trolled, insulted me, sent me messages that I’ve just been blocking, blocking,” she said.
She further questioned Adebayo’s claim to Christianity, saying a true Christian would not intentionally cause harm to others, especially a child.
“You are not a Christian, Biola. You are not a Christian, because if you were a Christian, you will not be looking for a way to cause pain and damage to a fellow human being, to a child. You will work, you will make your money, you will do your interviews, but you will know where to draw the line. Biola Adebayo, you are wicked and you are insensitive,” she said.
Princess maintained that Adebayo had no excuse for publishing the interview, pointing out that she could have reached out to her beforehand.
“Nobody puts a gun to your head that you should upload that video. You have my number. We have spoken on the phone. You have never for once…” she said, trailing off.
The criticism follows widespread backlash against Adebayo after she featured Baba Ijesha on her podcast, Talk To B, where the actor claimed he was framed in the case that led to his conviction and made remarks about the victim’s family.
In response to the criticism, Adebayo said she was simply doing her job as an interviewer and had asked appropriate questions. She apologised but insisted the interview was not meant to clear the actor or undermine his conviction.
“I would never enable anybody. The interview was not to exonerate Baba Ijesha or to agree with whatever he was saying. I would never be an accomplice to a paedophile or a rapist,” she said.
Baba Ijesha was convicted by a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja in July 2022 for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child and was sentenced to five and three years’ imprisonment to run concurrently.
His name has since been entered into the Lagos Sexual Offenders Register, and after his release, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice clarified that he was not acquitted of the offences.