The Nigerian movie industry received a heart-wrenching bomb just days ago after a popular actor was arrested for raping a minor. while this is a very sensitive case we must not that the movie industry particularly the Yoruba sect is no stranger to jaw-dropping scandals. Let’s go through the top 5 scandals in Yoruba movie industry
Baba Ijesha’s Rape Scandal
This is the most recent scandal rocking Nollywood presently, and the case is subject to new development until the trial is over. Popular comic actor, Olarenwaju Omiyinka also known as Baba Ijesha, was arrested on the 19th of April after allegedly molesting a minor. According to the report, the actor was caught by the CCTV camera that was intentionally put in the house after the little girl spoke up on being abused.
Days after his arrest, some of his colleagues, including a producer, Yomi Fabiyi, jumped to his defence, asking for his side of the story and the CCTV footage despite reports that the actor confessed to the heinous crime more than once. Fellow actresses like Iyabo Ojo, Tonto Dikeh and Mercy Aigbe have been at the forefront of calling out the rape apologist at the slightest attempt.
Scandals in Yoruba Movie Industry
A week after the arrest, the comedian princess came out as the accuser and explained how Baba Ijesha raped the minor put in her care. In the series of videos she made, she narrated the ordeal and asked people to threaten her all they want, but she’d rather die trying to get justice for her foster child.
At the time of this publication, Baba Ijesha still remains in police custody awaiting trial and conviction.
Baba Suwe in Drug Trafficking Mess
The memories of watching Baba Suwe were definitely nothing remotely related to being a drug trafficker, but this was a mess the actor found himself about a decade ago.
Born Babatunde Omidina, the actor found himself in a drug saga after NDLEA arrested him for pushing cocaine in October 2011. He was arrested while trying to board a flight to France and was taken into custody. Three weeks after his arrest, he was released on a $3000 bail after the NDLEA failed to find the drugs in his system.
Months after his arrest, the actor filed a suit against the NDLEA for damages.
Lola Margeret and the Credit Card Scam
The shame of being an ex-convict who was deported from the US probably forced this actress into a social media extinction. the actress was arrested in 2016 after being convicted for credit card fraud and the news made its way into the entertainment industry after her mugshot appeared online.
She was deported in 2018 after she struck a deal with the law enforcement deals to reveal the identities of her cohorts. Since her return, she has led a seemingly quiet life save for the occasional shade of her fake the industry is.
Yetunde Akilapa in Kleptomania Ordeal
A popular face in the Yoruba movie industry, Yetunde Akilapa made the news multiply times for being caught stealing. Her fans possible lost count of how many times the actress was caught stealing. Between 2013, that actress was caught stealing at least twice and embarrassed in public by Lagos residents. In an interview with encomium magazine, the actress admitted that she found herself doing things she was not aware of.
However, she maintained that after being delivered by a strong man of God, that problem had been sent back to the sender.
Seun Egbegbe and his alleged Fraud Scam
Seun Egbegbe was a big-time Yoruba Nollywood filmmaker whose career was dampened by the scandal of fraud allegations levelled against him. The producer, who was rumoured to be dating bigwig actress Toyin Abraham sometime ago, was arrested alongside four others for duping over 40 Bureau de change operators of the sums of N39 million; $90,000 and £12,550 from 2015 to 2017.
Seun ended up spending 42 months in jail after failing to meet his bail requirements and appeared before the court in September 2020. However, following that, his lawyer has refused to give updates to the press on his case.
