‘When did they marry?’ Nigerians react to Baba Ijesha’s baby announcement

Reactions have continued to trail the news of actor and filmmaker Olanrewaju “Baba Ijesha” James welcoming a baby boy with his wife, and fashion entrepreneur Abiodun Tokunbo, CEO of Luminee Couture.

The announcement surprised many social media users, particularly because neither Baba Ijesha nor Ms Tokunbo had previously made their relationship public.

In March, Luminee held a surprise baby shower.

The event, which took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, roughly two and a half months ago, was well attended by celebrities, including Mercy Aigbe and Eniola Ajao.

Behind the scene clips from the shoot have gone viral on social media.

In one of the clips Baba Ijesha addresses critics and fake friends.

Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “I’ve remained calm and focused. Any day I hear a rebellious song from stupid, rebellious individuals, I’ll reply to them that day with a hunter’s song, which they’ll be wearing like clothes. I’m talking to my rebellious friends. The person for whom the proverb is meant will know it. The hater knows he or she is mad”.

However, on Monday, Baba Ijesha surprised his fans and followers by announcing that he was the father of her newborn son, King Kagar Omiyinka.

He announced on his Facebook page, where he posted a reel of himself and his wife, Luminee, when she was heavily pregnant.

Luminee

Luminee also shared photographs of the child’s palm and feet on Instagram.

“My Father, thank You for the precious gift of this beautiful baby boy. We dedicate his life to You today. Lord, place a hedge of protection around him, guard his health, and grant him peaceful sleep. We pray that he will grow to be a man of courage, wisdom, and deep faith. Fill his heart with Your love and guide his steps all the days of his life. IJN,” she wrote.

Relationship timeline

The birth of the child is being met with congratulations from the parents’ friends and colleagues.

However, many social media users expressed surprise because the couple had never publicly acknowledged a relationship before announcing the birth of their son.

The announcement also reignited discussions about the actor’s imprisonment and subsequent release in November 2025.

Baba Ijesha was released from custody in November 2025.

In July 2022, an Ikeja Special Offences Court convicted the Nollywood actor of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old minor.

He was found guilty of four of six offences, after which he was sentenced to a 16-year jail term to run concurrently.

More concerning for those observing the situation is that conjugal visits are not permitted or recognised in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 does not make provisions for them.

Baba Ijesha’s conviction remains one of the most controversial cases involving a Nigerian entertainer in recent years, and reactions to Monday’s announcement reflected the continuing divide between those who believe he deserves an opportunity to rebuild his life and those who argue that the gravity of the offence should continue to shape public perception of him.

Reactions

As expected, the birth has sparked a heated debate on the Internet.

While some wonder why a sex offender is allowed to raise a family, others think that everyone deserves a second chance.

Some even went as far as to speculate that the news about the birth is a publicity stunt to promote a new movie.

X user Ayeesha posits that some men will remain badly behaved because there is always that one woman who will still give them “food to eat”.

For Oluwatobi, @_tobyblush, the fact that Baba Ijesha, a convicted sexual offender, is raising a family is proof that there’s truly a man for every woman.

“My own advice is that she should sha protect her daughter very well. May affliction not rise again, oh,” she wrote.

Brooda John opines that the woman who got pregnant and birthed a child for Baba Ijesha is a pure disgrace to womanhood and humanity.

“Only a Shepeteri woman can do such an awful thing. Funny enough, this woman has a teenage daughter and still went ahead to have a show of shame with him.

“In a sane country, Baba Ijesha would be ostracised by everyone, but this is Nigeria, where the worst of the worst are given an audience,” he wrote.

However, some believe that the film producer deserves a second chance.

An X user known as Martins, the film director, notes that the whole noise about Baba Ijesha is funny.

He wrote, “Yes, he committed an offence, he was arrested, prosecuted, served his sentence, and has been released. The purpose of punishment is not only justice but also correction. Hopefully, he has learned from his mistakes.

“If someone chooses to marry him, that’s their personal decision. Why should that be a problem for everyone else? Many of us make mistakes, ask God for forgiveness, and still receive grace and favour. If we believe people can change, then we should at least allow room for redemption and growth.”

Miimii, @agbeks__, toes the line, describing the reaction to the news of the child’s birth as surprising.

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“Nobody is saying people should forget what happened. Nobody is saying anyone is above accountability. The case is a matter of public record, and people are entitled to their opinions about it. However, who are we to judge her for the decision she has made?

“She is an adult woman who chose to marry and have a child with a man whose past is well known to the public. Whether people agree with that decision or not, it is ultimately her life and her choice,” she opined.

See more reactions below

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