Top stars in the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood, have drawn a battle line with a top hotelier in Ajao Estate over his refusal to pay off his N4 million debt to the artistes.
https://www.nigeriafilms.com gathered that on Tuesday, 10 February, the Lebanese owner of the hotel contracted Segun Arinze, a top movie star and the Chief Executive Officer of Klink Studio, Kingsley Ogoro, to organise the formal opening of the hotel for St. Valentines Day celebration on 14 February 2009.
During a meeting held between both parties, it was agreed that Ogoro and Arinze will provide the following for a fee of N4 million: 12 Nollywood stars, musical band for live performance, pianist, six professional outboard coverage cameras and a master of ceremony.
Kingsley Ogoro said: “He also requested to purchase our Yamaha Piano for $3,000, which we reluctantly agreed to sell because it was newly purchased for our rental sound studio.
“It was agreed that they will pay 50 per cent cash of N2million for the event planning to commence and the remaining 50 per cent in barter, while 100 per cent payment was agreed for the piano.”
https://www.nigeriafilms.com learnt that a day before the show would take place, the hotelier gave the sum of N300,000 to the artistes, promising that he would pay the remaining fee two days after the event.
“The show was successful but the hotelier refused to pay. Immediately after the show, the Lebanese and his partner, an Igbo chief refused to pick our calls, until we used an unknown phone number.
“On 6 June, Segun Arinze and I went there on invitation. We were shocked when the hotelier decided to pick a quarrel with us. He slapped me, shoved and pushed me out, saying he would deal with me, even in my country.
“He also called on his security men to lock us up for sometime before Segun and I were allowed to leave,” Ogoro stated.
When https://www.nigeriafilms.com called the Deputy General Manager of the hotel on phone, he said: “This is not what we can discuss on phone because I also have some evidence to show you. So the best thing is for you to come around.”
The Nollywood stars that added spice and glamour to the show included Ramsey Noah, Funke Akindele, Ejike Asiegbu Sammie Okposo, Emmanuel Elumade, Charles Novia, Ruke Amata.
