Nollywood could be facing a major legal crisis, as actor Taye Arimoro has issued a stern warning to three of its most powerful bodies: the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), and the Association of Movie Producers (AMP). Arimoro is demanding a public apology and a full retraction of his indefinite suspension within 24 hours, or he will proceed with a N1 billion lawsuit for defamation and damages. The question on everyone’s lips is simple: what exactly sparked this dramatic confrontation?
The entire controversy began not with a lawsuit, but with a chaotic scene on a movie set involving Arimoro and actress/filmmaker Peggy Ovire. Following the clash, Arimoro quickly took to social media, posting a live video to share his side of the story. However, Ovire and her team immediately disputed his account, alleging that the actor had become aggressive and physically assaulted two crew members when they asked him to complete his work for the night.
The three major guilds soon stepped in. After a joint investigation, they declared Arimoro the primary aggressor and accused him of circulating a false live video to mislead the public and damage Ovire’s reputation. They then imposed an indefinite suspension on Arimoro and ordered him to issue a public apology.
In Arimoro’s demand letter, the lawyers state that “The purported industry-wide suspension imposed on our Client, the ban on filmmakers from working with him, and compulsory directives to practitioners are blatant and malicious attempts to ruin our Client’s professional career,” going on to say that “these pronouncements amount to unlawful interference, reputational damage, and actionable economic sabotage.”
His defense rests on two critical points that challenge the very authority of the guilds. First, he is not a registered member of the organizations that sanctioned him, meaning they have no legal right to suspend him in the first place. Second, he claims the guilds acted without proper due process, suggesting the investigation was one-sided and he was denied a fair hearing.
The most interesting piece of evidence supporting Arimoro’s counter-attack is the alleged CCTV footage of the incident. Reports suggest this footage complicates the guilds’ narrative, as it appears to show Peggy Ovire approaching Arimoro, removing her wig, and then striking him.
Here is the CCTV footage of the incident below:
By threatening the N1 billion suit, Arimoro is not just fighting a suspension; he is challenging the guilds’ power to regulate non-members and their investigative integrity. The outcome of this legal drama will undoubtedly set a major precedent for how Nollywood’s governing bodies operate in the future.
The post EXPLAINER: Taye Arimoro threatens N1bn lawsuit following suspension by Nollywood guilds appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.
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