Up and coming actress, Crystabel Goddy, who was suspended from the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, by the former president Ibinabo Fiberesima-led administration, says her suspension from the guild was an act of wickedness and unfairness.
She called out to Ibinabo in a chat with the Punch, saying her recent ordeal at the court over an alleged murder due to reckless driving was well deserved.
Although Crystabel had been recalled by the acting president, Emeka Ike, who said her suspension by Ibinabo was wicked, she (Crystabel) insisted on telling her own side of the story as she lambasted the former president of the guild.
It would be recalled that Ibinabo had suspended the actress following her purported brutal attack on fellow actress, Princess Chineke.
The actresses (Crystabel and Princess), while on location at a place in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos state for a popular soap opera sometime in February, were involved in a heated argument which landed them in a messy tussle which saw Crystabel allegedly grab Princess’ thigh with her teeth and bit off a chunk of her flesh which brought out her veins.
Following the feud, the Ibinabo-led faction of the guild described the act as ‘cannibalism’ and had set up a high-powered committee headed by the National Chief Whip, Empress Eneh to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the matter.
Crystabel was however suspended but later called back to duty by Ike who is currently the acting president of the AGN.
Narrating her side of the story, the up and coming actress said trouble started when the duo were paired together to share a room during a movie production. She said Chineke had repeatedly complained about her (Crystabel) frequent midnight calls and one night, it led to a bitter fight leaving both parties injured. After they were separated, Goddy claimed Chineke went into the bathroom only to come out claiming that Goddy grabbed her thigh with her teeth and bit off a chunk of her (Chineke’s) flesh.
She swore she did not bite Chineke as she recounted her ordeal.
“Due to the nature of our profession, we don’t get to check our phones till we are done with shooting at night. That is when most of us have time to tend to our missed calls and messages. The actress had always complained about my phone calls but I found it amusing because I don’t speak loudly on phone. The hotel had a club and that also made so much noise so how come it was my phone call that was disturbing her sleep?
“Often times, she had complained but this faithful day, I got into the room and saw that she was sleeping on my side of the bed making phone calls, I waited till she was done then I told her to go to her side of the bed because we had our sleeping arrangement. She became belligerent towards me and began to insult my father. I told her to stop but she did not. Before I knew it, a fight ensued. She pushed me and I almost hit my head on the mirror before people came to separate us.
“By the time I would check my body, I had finger nail scratches everywhere and a bite mark on my hand although it was gradually fading. She went to the toilet and came out only to claim that I bit her. There was no blood on the trousers she wore or on the floor; neither was there blood on my cloth but she claimed that I bit her.
“I am not a cannibal; I have never eaten a human flesh in my life. I feel sad when I read that they call me a cannibal but I am a very strong person. If you are innocent of something, with time you would be vindicated. I am happy that people who have had to relate with me know that I am a peace-loving person.
“Nobody heard my side of the story yet they dubbed me a cannibal and Ibinabo placed a ban on me.”
The actress described the ban as “quite irresponsible of Ibinabo” to ban her in the first place without hearing from both parties.
She said, “My only regret is that I indulged her and I am not proud of it. But then with my age and the little number of years I have spent in the industry, I should be excused. Politicians fight every day, so I don’t see why I should be buried. I did not kill anybody.
“Ibinabo was accused of killing somebody and she was walking on the street, bragging before the law caught up with her. I believe that it is because she passed a wrong judgement against me that God is punishing her. Her ban against me was flimsy and uncalled for even though it has been lifted by Emeka Ike.
“I was in her office and she told me that I was a very decent young lady from the way we were chatting, my lawyer was there and I am quoting her verbatim. She told me not to worry that the matter was just a fight between two people. She advised that I work on my temperament. She said that she would settle the matter and reverse the ban.
“She even went as far as taking me to the stadium where they had their veteran football competition and introduced me to the chairman, board of trustees and some directors. As she was introducing me, some of the men told me that I didn’t look the part of a fighter and that I should be more careful next time and avoid people who would trigger my anger. She promised the man that she would take control of the situation.
“She asked me to come to her office the next day and I was there with my lawyer, we waited for seven hours but Ibinabo refused to see me. She gave a flimsy excuse that the other actress was not available because she went to treat her wound.
“My lawyer was of the opinion that the other girl did not have to be there, that all Ibinabo should have done was to reconcile us and reverse the ban she placed on me. She is certainly paying for the wickedness she meted out on me because God does not joke with me. I don’t go about looking for trouble; I live a very private life. I am not a saint but I try my best to help people,” Crystabel added.
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