On the 14th of July, an Ikeja Special Offences Court sentenced Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, better known as Baba Ijesha, to 16 years of imprisonment over a sexual offense against a minor. Whether we are pleased with the judgment or not, the Osun State-born actor will not return until the next 5years. And when he returns, he will face too many problems.
Ordinarily, people would think that when the 49-year-old man returns from prison, he will become a free man since the law has forgiven him. But, this would not be the case, as society will slam him its own sentence. While the current jail term will end in 2027, the problems he will face when he returns will be too many and could even last forever.
This publisher understands you're surprised by the headline claiming that Baba Ijesha will face problems when he returns. It is real. We urge you to continue reading as we shall highlight three things you may not know as problems awaiting his release.
The first of these problems is that the convicted Yoruba actor will be severely stigmatized. Like every other ex-convict, society will label him with stigma upon the fact that he had been punished. Moreover, his status as a celebrity and public figure will make this stigmatization go beyond his immediate environment. While it may sound not like a big deal, it is a very big problem for him.
Another big problem the actor cum comedian will face on his release back to society is trust. Apart from his family members and relatives, who may still have 100% trust in him, the public (society) will have zero confidence in him. Even if he has turned a new leaf, people will not be fair to him. He will continue to have trust problems with people, especially regarding issues relating to what took him to jail.
Baba Ijesha will also face the problem of association. Several people he had connections with before going to jail will cut the link. If, for instance, the actor was an ambassador for a particular brand, such a brand will dissociate itself from him being an ex-convict. What we are saying, in essence, is that no brand would want to have any association with an ex-prisoner. Even if he has repented, the brand will never go for him because people's sentiment about such development will hurt their company.
There is no if as to whether the abovementioned problems will face the actor when he is finally out of prison. That is how it has always been for ex-convicts, and it won't be different for Baba Ijesha. Rather, the problem could multiply considering his status in society. Apart from that, there is no certainty when these problems will last, as they could go on for several years before it fades from the mind of people.
This article represents the opinion of this publisher. While It may not be all correct, you can drop your own opinion under this post in the comment section. Thank you.
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