Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, known as Baba Ijesha, says the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has conferred on him a chieftaincy title and gifted him a brand-new car, a gesture that has drawn sharp criticism from Nigerians online.
Baba Ijesha disclosed the honor in a Facebook post late Thursday, sharing photos of himself and his wife, fashion entrepreneur Afolashade Omiyinka, known as CEO Luminee, taken during a visit to the Ooni’s palace. He said he was bestowed with the title Baba Awada Konge Oduwa.
“My deepest gratitude to His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife. Baba, thank you for the royal welcome, fatherly love, and the confidence you gave my wife Afolashade Omiyinka and I,” he wrote. “For the luxurious gifts you blessed us with, and the brand-new car, I am truly humbled.”
He added: “As a son of the soil, I’m also honored by the chieftaincy title, Baba Awada Konge Oduwa. Ile Ife, Ile Oodua and the chiefs and citizens, thank you, sir, ma.”
CEO Luminee also posted photos from the visit on her Instagram Story, wearing the same outfit seen in her husband’s pictures, though she did not mention the Ooni or the title directly.
Meanwhile, Baba Ijesha was convicted in July 2022 of sexually assaulting a minor and sentenced to 16 years in prison. He was released in November 2025 after serving more than three years. The chieftaincy news comes weeks after he and CEO Luminee welcomed a baby boy, King Kagar Omiyinka, whose August naming ceremony drew its own controversy after the couple listed Aso Ebi fabric at ₦250,000 for men and ₦350,000 for women.
The announcement has split opinion online, with many questioning why a convicted sex offender is being publicly honored so soon after his release.
One X user, Thankgod Okonkwo, called it “a deeply troubling message to send,” arguing that a chieftaincy title reflects the values a society chooses to celebrate. Another user, Precious Atubobienemi, said rewarding a man convicted of assaulting a child sends survivors the message that celebrity status outweighs accountability.
Others were more forgiving. A user named Paul wrote that Baba Ijesha “has paid for his sins,” adding that he should be allowed to move on if he does not reoffend. A user called Ileshboi wished him “more success to come.”
Some questioned the palace’s judgment directly. A user with the handle P.S.A said the gesture could be read as “an endorsement” of the actor’s past conduct, adding that the monarch “would have thought better.” Another, writing as Ozoya Afegbai, described the situation as bad optics for the throne.
Several comments referenced Iyabo Ojo, the actress who was among the first public figures to speak out during Baba Ijesha’s 2021 trial, prompting speculation about her reaction.
The Ooni’s palace has not responded to requests for comment on the chieftaincy title or the circumstances behind it.
