By Fawaz Adebisi
Yomi Fabiyi, a Nigerian renowned actor and activist has written a scathing letter to Morayo Afolabi-Brown, one of the organizers of the popular TVC show, “Your View”, expressing his discontent with the treatment he received as a guest on the show.
Fabiyi declared, through his Facebook page, that he may never attend the show again, citing a lack of preparation, discomfort, and his disagreement with the show’s stance on the Baba Ijesha case.
In the letter, Fabiyi accused the program of orchestrating a set-up to disgrace him and questions the ethical considerations of the show’s positions on sensitive issues.
He highlighted an uncomfortable incident where all four presenters walked past him, a moment he described as “classless.”
He wrote, “it was crystal clear the interview was a SET UP to disgrace. I am natural and upright, so it never happened. However, my concerns with you and your positions especially on the BABA IJESHA CASE was that:
“i) you opined on national tv that it was ok that a child/underage in Lagos and Nigeria can be groomed for sexual abuse. I have a child living in Nigeria, that of my siblings, friends etc. Children are the same all over the world. It is such a shame you could hold such position. Your producer and the TVC management let that pass. Still in shock.
“ii) You and your co-travellers were all aware that days after Baba Ijesha was arrested, a lab test was conducted on the purported fourteen year old and “sperm” was found on her. This led to her confession that one “Damola Adekola and another man, house security a.k.a Okele” had been sleeping with her. Damola Adekola was arrested and he confessed to having sex with same girl.
“Your programme ambushed me with a question which reads in part “don’t you think you owe Princess and others an apology…..”. When it turns out that your programme like the Police and Prosecutor cannot explain why Damola Adekola who was arrested, confessed to having sex with the girl from 13 years is walking free till date.
“Make it make sense to me, and why I should apologize for fighting that his absence at trial is dangerous, perhaps defiling more now. No police investigation, evidence nor court verdict found Baba Ijesha guilty of defiling the girl.
“Princess groomed a minor and engaged in CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, TRIAL BY ORDEAL(Torture) etc yet your programme asked me to apologize for fighting against these. You hurt me and my human rights advocacy and I MAY NOT HONOUR THE SHOW AGAIN. You all are either selective or ill-informed. None of you truly care about the girl.”
Recall that Fabiyi attended “Your View” Show on September 16, 2022.
He was invited to speak on Baba Ijesha’s case, a controversial issue involving allegations of sexual assault against a fellow actor.
Yomi Fabiyi is a Nigerian actor, producer, and director who has appeared in several movies and TV shows.
Before the show, Yomi Fabiyi’s stand on Baba Ijesha case was that he was against the way the actor was treated by the police and some of his colleagues in the industry.
He claimed that Baba Ijesha was framed by Princess, the comedienne who accused him of molesting her adopted daughter.
He also demanded to see the CCTV footage of the alleged incident, and said that he would not support any form of child abuse.
He criticized Iyabo Ojo, another actress who was vocal in condemning Baba Ijesha, and accused her of being evil and manipulative.
He also staged a protest at the Lagos State Magistrate Court in solidarity with Baba Ijesha on June 24, 2021.
The whole case started on April 19, 2021, when a video clip showing Baba Ijesha sexually assaulting a minor went viral on social media.
The minor was a foster daughter of Princess, a comedienne who reported the case to the police.
Baba Ijesha was arrested on April 22, 2021 and charged with six counts of sexual offences.
His trial lasted for over a year and ended with his conviction and sentencing on July 14, 2022.
