The Nigerian movie industry, usually called; Nollywood is no doubt filled with intrigues and controversies. Among the three main sectors under the entertainment industry; Comedy, music and film, Nollywood 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 Nollywood 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 Nollywood 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
Another actress in this category is 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.In the case of 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.
