“I’ve Been There Too”—Iyabo Ojo Shares Why She Fought So Hard for Princess and the Alleged Victim in Baba Ijesha Case
Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has opened up about why she was so vocal and emotional during the public fallout of the alleged rape case involving actor Baba Ijesha and comedian Princess’s foster daughter.
Speaking on an episode of The Goldroom podcast, Iyabo revealed that her past experiences with sexual abuse shaped her passionate response. For her, it wasn’t just about the case—it was personal.
“When that incident happened, I couldn’t hold back my emotions,” she said. “I think it hit harder because I had been through something similar—multiple times, even more than that young girl. I knew what it felt like, and I couldn’t stay silent.”
Iyabo expressed deep disappointment at how some adults twisted the narrative, attacked the victim, and even went after Princess. She said what she witnessed during that time revealed just how far Nigeria still has to go when it comes to protecting victims and holding people accountable.
“I was shocked,” she said. “Seeing people—grown-ups—trying to shift blame or paint the wrong person as the villain… it made me realise we’re still struggling as a society.”
She didn’t hold back on calling out her fellow entertainers either. According to her, those in the public eye carry a greater responsibility to lead by example.
“As entertainers, we’re not just here to entertain—we’re also preaching values. Whether we like it or not, people are watching us. If we act in movies where bad behavior is punished, how can we turn around and do the same things in real life? It’s hypocritical.”
Iyabo emphasized that this is why she’s unafraid to speak out, especially when someone in the industry crosses a line.
“When I speak out, especially against fellow entertainers, it’s not because I want to fight. It’s because I expect better. We should hold ourselves to higher standards—we owe that to our audience, and to ourselves.”
