A Vice President of the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF) and former President of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), Comrade Alex Eyengho, has debunked the perception in some circles that there was crack in Nollywood as a result of the pulling out of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) from the “Federation of Nollywood Guilds and Associations (FREGAN).”
According to Comrade Eyengho, “it is safe to say without any shred of doubt that with the pulling out from FREGAN by AGN, and rightly so too, there is a manifest crack in that unholy rendezvous, and not in Nollywood. The so-called FREGAN was foisted on the industry by the Adedayo Thomas-led NFVCB, after he gave a directive in 2020 that all associations and guilds in Nollywood must compulsorily register under the NFVCB for a fee, update the board annually with the list of financially up-to-date members of the associations/guilds, pay to the board annually a certain percentage of the annnual dues of each member of the associations/guilds, among other directives. Associations/guilds who refused to comply with this illegal directive, would not be recognised by the NFVCB, neither would the board allow members of such associations/guilds to present their films for statutory censorship/classification/registration. The directive came into force since January 2021.”
Comrade Eyengho stated further: “However, the action is being challenged at the Federal High court, Ikoyi, Lagos, in the interest of the industry by the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP) and Alex Eyengho as the first and second plaintiffs respectively, while the NFVCB and Adedayo Thomas are the first and second defendants respectively. The position of ANCOP is that under the extant Act and 2008 Regulations, the NFVCB does not have the right whatsoever to regulate or interfer with the internal running or general activities of associations and guilds in Nollywood. ANCOP maintains that it is the individual members of associations/guilds who have businesses (films to present for classification/censorship/registration, operating of cinema houses/viewing centres, and distribution of films) to do with the NFVCB, that the board may regulate their activities as contained in the enabling Act and Regulations2008, and not in any way the activities of associations/guilds, who by law are not into business ventures.”
Comrade Eyengho further revealed that hearing in the matter continued on October 17, 2023, when Mrs. Uju Emagah entered the witness box for the defendants (NFVCB/Adedayo Thomas). She is the Deputy Director and Zonal Coordinator of the South West Zone of the NFVCB.
According to Eyengho, after a detailed cross-examination of Mrs. Emagah by counsel of the plaintiffs, Solomon Edoh, Esq., the Judge adjourned the matter to December 14, 2023, for adoption of the final written address of counsels, afterwhich a date will be fixed for the judgement.
Suffice it to say that Alex Eyengho had in the previous hearing mounted the witness box for the plaintiffs, where he was cross-examined by the defence counsel.
