Convicted Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has described his experience in prison as bitter, alleging that he was made a scapegoat because of his celebrity status.

The actor made this known during an interview shared on YouTube on Sunday, months after his release from prison.

Reflecting on his time behind bars, Baba Ijesha cautioned young people against careless decisions, warning that actions they consider harmless could eventually lead to imprisonment.

“Youth should be careful in their dealings. What you think may not lead to prison may land you in prison,” he said.

Describing his experience in one word, the actor said it was “bitter”, alleging that he was used to teach others a lesson because he was a public figure.

He also claimed that some prison warders were harsher than police officers, adding that his celebrity status did not attract any special treatment from prison officials.

According to him, inmates were treated according to prison rules, regardless of their social standing or public recognition.

Baba Ijesha further expressed surprise at seeing influential and wealthy individuals, including people he described as powerful, treated like ordinary inmates.

He also recounted an experience involving an individual who allegedly failed to answer his calls before his incarceration but later attempted to reach him through another person while he was in prison.

The actor went on to claim that about 65 per cent of inmates were being wrongly detained, citing the case of an inmate he referred to as “No Case” as an example.

He also described prison as a place where prayers are answered, suggesting that his experience behind bars had given him a different perspective on life, faith and human relationships.