Actress and comedian Princess has condemned Biola Adebayo for interviewing Baba Ijesha on her podcast, saying it was insensitive and inflicted pain on the victim’s family.
In an Instagram video, Princess criticised Adebayo, asking how she, a self-described rape survivor, could give a platform to a convicted sex offender to attack the victim’s family.
“You said you have also been a victim of rape. Would you, Biola, be confident if the person you claimed raped you — because I’m going to use ‘claim’ now — went on TV many years after assaulting you and starts casting aspersions on your family, saying Biola lied? How would you feel? Would you feel good?” Princess said.
Princess, whose foster daughter was the victim, questioned Adebayo’s motives and faith, saying she prioritised views over the child’s welfare.
“Since it’s not you and it’s not your child, it’s okay. Since it’s for views and it’s for money, it’s okay. Since it’s something that will bring people to your page, to your channel, it’s okay. You didn’t stop to think that the child in question is the child of a colleague and an acquaintance,” she said.
Princess insisted that Adebayo had no justification for uploading the interview, noting that she had her phone number and could have reached out before proceeding.
“Nobody puts a gun to your head that you should upload that video. You have my number. We have spoken on the phone. You have never for once stood by me during the problem or asked after the child…” she said.
Princess called Adebayo’s actions “wicked” and stated that she faced online harassment after the interview.
She further challenged Adebayo’s claim to the Christian faith, saying a genuine Christian would not seek to inflict pain on another person or their child.
“You are not a Christian, Biola. You are not a Christian, because if you were a Christian, you will not be looking for a way to cause pain and damage to a fellow human being, to a child. You will work, you will make your money, you will do your interviews, but you will know where to draw the line. Biola Adebayo, you are wicked and you are insensitive,” she said.
Princess also revealed she’s been facing relentless online harassment since Adebayo’s interview with Baba Ijesha aired, with trolls, insults, and threats flooding in.
“Since that video you did came out, people have continuously trolled, insulted me, sent me messages that I’ve just been blocking, blocking,” she said.
On Tuesday, Adebayo apologised for the controversy, saying she was doing her job as an interviewer and asked tough questions.
She insisted the interview wasn’t meant to clear Baba Ijesha’s name or downplay his crime, stating, “I would never enable anybody. The interview was not to exonerate Baba Ijesha or to agree with whatever he was saying. I would never be an accomplice to a paedophile or a rapist”.
Baba Ijesha was convicted of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child in 2022 and is on Lagos’ Sexual Offenders Register.
