Words:Adedosu 'kenzy' Adekunle
The Nigerian movie industry, usually called; Nolly-wood is no doubt
filled with intrigues and controversies. Among the three main sectors
under the entertainment industry; Comedy, music and film, Nolly-wood has
recorded more controversies than the two others combined.
If an
actress is not said to be snatching another woman’s husband, it would be
that an actor is busy going out with an older lover. Also, one might
hear news about a movie producer sleeping with up and coming actresses
for movie roles or two star actresses fighting over a boyfriend, who may
also be an actor or probably a movie producer/director.
It is
very worse among the female folks in Nolly-wood as some of them have to
sleep with politicians and rich men in the society to live a lavish
lifestyle.
How does one explain why it is only the actresses that
stay in choice areas of Lagos State like Lekki, Ajah, GRA Ikeja and
other places, while their male counterparts live in slums. Even the
veterans among the male actors cannot boast of a house of their own in
some of these slums, but these actresses already have more than one
mansion in Lekki. Most of these female Nolly-wood stars paint the town
red with super expensive ‘mobile homes’, while their male counterparts
still disturb the dust with their ‘leggedise Benz’. What an irony?
In
this edition, we are taking a cursory look at the lives of some of the
most scandalous actresses in the Nigerian film industry.
Laide Bakare is also an actress that has ‘controversies’ as her
middle name. She has been severally alleged to be sleeping around with
some politicians and top society men. Even her marriage to Lagos
businessman, Tunde Oriowo in 2013 was not without controversy. Just
before her former US-based husband, Olumide Okufulire knew what was
happening; the actress had formalized her union with Mr. Oriowo.
This brought about long media battle between the two estranged lovers.
Mr Okufulire challenged Laide to a DNA test to determine the paternity
of their only daughter from the relationship. Okufulire claimed that
Laide used him to obtain an American green card, which she allegedly
used when she was to be delivered of the baby she said she had for Mr
Oriowo.
It was even reported in some quarters that Laide
snatched her new man from an equally controversial colleague, Bisi
Ibidapo-Obe. It was said that the Range Rover Sport car Laide paraded in
the media as hers was formerly used by Bisi and that the car was
retrieved from Bisi by Mr Oriowo and given to Laide.
Empress Njamah may not be prominent in films these days unlike
before, but prior to her going into ‘acting oblivion,’ she was involved
in few scandals that put her on the front cover of entertainment
magazines. Her relationship with popular musician; Timaya was not
without controversial news stories and gossips.
Timaya was even
reportedly beaten by some military officers because of Empress. Apart
from that, news went viral on the internet about the actress’ alleged
sex scandal ‘with the big eyes,’ taking the guy to a high level of
romance, though this later turned out to be false.
Ini Edo. This Akwa Ibom State-born screen diva has had to deal
with many controversies, mostly sex scandals. Some years ago, she was
alleged to have warmed the bed of a state governor from the South-South
region of Nigeria. Some tale-bearers even said that the First Lady of
the state got wind of the mess and allegedly stopped the actress from
coming near the governor.
Ini Edo, who is now married to a
US-based Edo State-born businessman, Philip Ehiagwina, was in the news
few years ago for allegedly patronising a Lagos club with a man. The
news story raised some dust at that time as her husband claimed Ini Edo
was not at the said club as reported.
Uche Iwuji is another actress with more than one scandal trailing
her. Some years ago, she was involved in a nude scandal mess with
another lady. At that time, she was still a student of the University of
Lagos (UNILAG). The same picture resurfaced late 2013. She is one
actress that has remained in the consciousness of her movie buffs
because of controversies.
Apart from her nude photograph, which
went viral on the internet, she was alleged to have had an extra-marital
affair with a bank Managing Director. It was reported in late 2013 that
her marriage with an oil and gas big boy, Juwon Lawal, crashed because
of the alleged affair with the banker
Bisi Ibidapo Obe is one actress that is very popular in the
Yoruba movie industry. Though she has not been too active like before,
controversies and scandals have substituted for that. In 2013, she was
in the news for allegedly having a baby for a former federal lawmaker,
Dino Melaye, who denied the child’s paternity.
The story became
so messy and so embarrassing for the beautiful actress such that she
became an object of controversy and hit the cover of many soft sell
magazines for weeks.
Genevieve Nnaji is another screen beau that has been trailed
with some scandals. Some years ago, she was in the news for allegedly
lubricating the ‘lolly pop’ of a top and highly ‘transit’ politician,
who obeys the law of ‘porting’ very well.
Even after that, the
new brand ambassador of Etisalat was alleged to have fought dirty with a
fellow actress over access to the presidency. She has been scandalized
on issues bothering on sex on several occasions, and the actress is
said not to be having a stable relationship till date.
Tayo Odueke, also known as Sikiratu Sindodo, is not new to
scandals. It would be recalled that the beautiful lady reportedly
enjoyed a smooth affair with a top Lagos transporter, Musiliu Akinsanya
aka MC Oluomo, who happens to be a notable officer of the NURTW in
Oshodi, Lagos.
Her romance with the fun-loving transport
unionist was in the news, while the relationship lasted. Prior to that,
she was allegedly involved with her colleague known as Kunle Afod, but
she reportedly broke up with the ‘bad boy’ actor after some time. After
ending her relationship with MC Oluomo, she was rumoured to have started
a sizzling affair with Aremu Afolayan, a younger brother of Kunle
Afolayan, a prolific filmmaker from the Ade Love dynasty.
Bukky Wright is one actress that is seen as a godmother by some
up and coming actresses in Nollywood, especially those in the Yoruba
film industry. Some time ago, she was alleged to have pimped a
colleague, Iyabo Ojo for Senator Musiliu Obanikoro during the former
Lagos PDP governorship candidate’s stint in Ghana as Nigeria’s High
Commissioner to the country.
It was during this time Iyabo took
her crew to Ghana to shoot some parts of her film, Afinzo. The actress
has also been romantically linked with some men in the past. She is
presently married to an America-based Nigerian.
Mosun Filani, her alleged affair with two Yoruba movie industry
big boys made her hit news headlines in the past. During her early years
in Nollywood, Mosun was alleged to have started a romantic affair with
Muyiwa Ademola, which threatened the actor’s marriage.
She was
also linked with another actor, Odunlade Adekola at a time. Even her
marriage to her present husband was not without controversy. It was
reported that she chased away the wife of Kayode Adeoye, son of a former
police officer, so that she could settle down with the man. Mosun was
also involved in a bitter feud with a Lagos head of ‘omo onile (land
owners)’, one Alhaji Babatunde, who reportedly requested the actress to
return the things he bought for her while they were dating. This was
after the man found out that Mosun had agreed to marry Kayode.
Iyabo Ojo is another actress that falls into this set of
actresses. She is the ring leader of a girls’ group in Nollywood called
‘pink girls’. According to gist making the rounds, members of this group
are pimped for some politicians and rich men in the society.
Some years ago, it was reported that Iyabo Ojo was caught having sex
with a man at the back of his car’s rear seat in London. She is not new
to controversies. The name ‘Iyabo Ojo’ is synonymous with negative
stories.
Tonto Dikeh has had to deal with many controversies in the
industry, which has made it difficult for her to grab endorsement deals
like others. What makes her case surprising to many watchers is the fact
that she doesn't care about what some of her actions can do to her
career.
Her hullabaloos have mostly been picking up quarrels
with her colleagues and lambasting them. Some years ago, she took on a
Ghanaian actor, Van Vicker while on a movie location in Festac area of
Lagos State.
She was reported to have puffed cigarette at the
actor’s face and damned the consequence. She has also not hidden her
hatred for Mercy Johnson, who many movie buffs believe act better than
her. Few years ago, Tonto Dikeh was in the heat of controversies for her
role in a soft-porn film released to the market, where she acted along
Jibola Dabo and Muna Obikwe.
