A renowned firmmaker, Lere Paimo, popularly known as “Eda Onile Ola,” on Wednesday, called on Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye and other well-to-do individuals in Nigeria to save him from being allegedly cheated over his long, originally produced “Ogbori Elemosho”.
He made this call during a press conference held in Ibadan, the state capital.
The classic Yoruba film “Ogbori Elemosho,” starring legendary actor Paimo, gained fame and was a significant epic released around the early 1980s.
However, some sources suggest it was a key work in the 1960s that built his reputation, establishing a historical drama genre in Nollywood.
The renowned filmmaker insisted that he was the original producer of Ogbori Elemosho, a work he described as pivotal to his career and legacy.
He said, “The film earned me national recognition, including the award of the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, and contributed to my chieftaincy title of Are Arobajo of Ogbomoso, conferred by the late Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade II.
“The current Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, had earlier approached me with a proposal to remake Ogbori Elemosho and requested information on the cost implications.
“He estimated the project at about N100 million, after which the monarch suggested that the production could go beyond that budget and requested changes to the script, promising to revert.”
The filmmaker alleged that in October 2025, someone, alongside others, visited his residence and claimed they had received approval from the Soun of Ogbomoso to remake the film.
“They told me they did not need my permission to remake the movie and that they only wanted to give me a ‘gift’ for the work,” he stated.
He further alleged that the group subsequently paid N7.5 million into his bank account, a development his children reportedly described as manipulation and robbery.
“Following their advice, I immediately returned the money to the group,” he said.
He explained that his legal counsel later issued a cease-and-desist letter to the studio, warning against proceeding with the remake without his express approval.
Despite this, he stressed that the parties insisted they had the monarch’s backing and allegedly threatened that legal action would not yield justice for him.
Describing the situation as an attempt to destroy his legacy, the veteran Nollywood actor said the original production of Ogbori Elemosho came at great personal cost, leaving him heavily indebted and leading to the seizure of his car at the time.
He added, “This work was meant to be a benefit to my children and me, but powerful individuals are attempting to take it away from me.
“I want to appeal to Governor Makinde, Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the RCCG, the Commissioner of Police in this state, and sons and daughters of Ogbomoso at home and abroad to intervene in the matter.”
He also called on well-meaning Nigerians to help protect him from what he described as injustice at his old age, adding that he suspects those involved might be connected to recent rumours of his death circulating on social media.
When The PUNCH contacted the Public Relations Officer to the Soun, Peter Olaleye, he said, “The issue, you know, is an in-house matter; Baba (Eda Onile Ola) is one of the Chiefs in Ogbomoso. Baba was contacted when the story was to be released. He was contacted, and he was officially written to. The crew even visited his house.
“The issue is that of Ogbomoso, and every bona fide son and daughter of Ogbomoso is entitled to the story.
“So, the story belongs to Ogbomoso, and the story they are even making now is not his own story. It is a new story entirely. The bone of contention is that it’s an in-house matter.”
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