It is the third week in January and moviedom practitioners are in the news for the
wrong and right reasons…

Trouble In John Okafors ‘Kingdom’
There was excitement in moviedom, when news broke that ailing comic actor John Okafor had been discharged from the facility where he was hospitalised since August 2023. The excitement was, however, cut short when detectives at the Force Criminical Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, reportedly arrested and charged the actors son Onyebuchi Okafor and his lover, Jasmine Okekeagwu, to court for conspiracy and stealing. It was gathered that their arrest followed a petition received from Diamond Waves Law on behalf of Ibus wife, Stella Maris Okafor. In the petition dated September 6, 2023, Stella Maris Okafor alleged that Ibu’s sons, Daniel and Valentine and one of the sons lover, Jasmine Okeke, conspired to defraud Ibu of monies raised from the public fund-raising initiative for the ailing actor, which attracted donations from his fans, entertainment industry players, and other well-spirited members of the public. Ibu’s wife is alleging that the duo of Daniel and Jasmine manipulated her and took possession of Mr. Ibu’s phone and hacked into the banking details therein. Stella Maris alleged that a total of N55 million has been successfully and criminally transferred prior to their arrest and investigation. Both Onyeabuchi and Chioma have been charged to court for conspiracy and stealing and were granted bail in the sum of N15 million with two sureties in like sum while case was adjourned to March 11,2024. Mute has been it for Mr. Ibu who a source revealed is more interested in getting back on the turf than anything else. We at Moviedom wish Mr. Ibu speedy recovery.

Toyin Abraham Hopeful Malaika Will Hit
300 Million Naira Mark
Top rated Nollywood actress and producer, Toyin Abraham, has hinted that her latest film Malaika is on its way to hitting the N300 million-naira mark at the Box office as it has made N284 million in the cinema in the last one month. Toyin, producer and lead actress in her debut movie at the cinema, Alakada Reloaded, hinted that with more show time, the Malaika will hit the N500 million mark before the end of January. It will be recalled that her previous efforts such as Alakada, The Ghost and the Tout and Fate of Alakada posted a huge figure from the box office in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Alakada Reloaded made over 74 million naira in the cinema followed by The Ghost and the Tout and Fate of Alakada which made over 77 million and 113 million naira respectively. Malaika premiered at the cinema on December 22, 2023. The film stars Toyin Abraham, Emeka Ike, Abike Shugaa, Muyiwa Ademola, Carter Efe, Ibrahim Chatta, Uzor Arukwe and Ruby Ojiakor.

Kunle Afolayan Excites Fans With Posters of Anikulapo Series
Notable Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has released the official poster for his forthcoming series Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre. Afolayan released two posters of the series which is a sequel to the movie, Anikulapo, released in 2022, on his social media accounts during the week. Titled, Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, Afolayan has led a cast and crew to work on the production early last year. The series star notable Nollywood stars such as Sola Sobowale, Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Gabriel Afolayan, Owobo Ogunde, Lateef Adedimeji, Eyiyemi Afolayan, Uzee Usman, Oyinda Sanni and Taiwo Hassan. Afolayan hinted that the series will be distributed by Netflix. The producer and director of other hit movies such as CEO, Phone Swap and October 1 didn’t however say when the series will debut on Netflix.

Actress Bimbo Adebayo In Ghastly Motor Accident
Colleagues and fans of actress and movie producer, Bimbo Adebayo have been up in thanksgiving to the Almighty for sparing the life of the actress who was involved in a ghastly car accident in Lagos. The accident occurred on Sunday, while the actress was on her way home from a movie shoot. Close family source confirmed that the actress of Oja Iro, Egungun Eja and Ife Ofege fame sustained external injuries. Another source say that the star of Jenrola and Preserved was under close examination and was responding to treatment. Fans and colleagues were shocked to see a viral video of the damaged car which appeared to have somersaulted. It was uploaded on social media on Tuesday and it elicited various remarks. We can only wish Bimbo, speedy recovery.

Lagos Film And Cinema Convention Celebrates Box Office Queen Funke Akindele
Organisers of Lagos International Film and Cinema Convention (LIFACC) have congratulated the Nigerian actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, for her outstanding record-setting feat in the Nigerian film industry. The LFACC noted in a release signed by its founder Theophilus Akatugba that every week since its release on December 15, 2023, A Tribe Called Judah broke several records: ‘’The biggest weekend opening in Nollywood, the largest opening for a female director ever and the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever. It has now become the first Nollywood film to pass the N1 billion mark domestically as of today Friday, January 26th, 2024 the Cinema Exhibitors Association’s BOX office reports put current figures at ₦1. 3 billion. This is such a beautiful time for the cinema and film industry in Nigeria and Africa and we at LIFACC join the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to congratulate Ms Funke Akindele, and Moses Babatope of Filmone distributors for this outstanding contribution to the progress of Cinema and film Business in Nigeria and Africa’s Akatugba said. The next edition of the LIFACC is scheduled to be held from August 1 to 3, 2024 in Lagos Nigeria.