Nollywood actor and newly installed President, Actor’s Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Emeka Ike, says he has nothing to do with Ibinabo Fiberesima’s predicament following the order from the Federal High Court that the former AGN president vacates the exalted office of the AGN and hands over to him.
According to him, Ibinabo could ‘bag another jail term because of contempt of court.’
It would be recalled that that Emeka Ike and Ibinabo have allegedly been a feud over the position of president of the Actor’s Guild and Ike had consistently accused the actress of sitting on a throne that does not belong to him.
Also, earlier last week, the court ordered for the dissolution of the Board of Trustees of the AGN and Ibinabo’s suit challenging the nullification of her election as President of the body.
Acting on the court order in a statement issued by the National Secretary of AGN, Femi Durojaiye, Ibinabo was ordered to step down as the president and Emeka, who had been battling over the position with Ibinabo, will take over as the president.
The statement had read: “The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos at the application and argument of Counsel to Actors Guild of Nigeria, Barr. Peter Andor Oboyi, struck out Ibinabo’s and Board of Trustees, BoT suit challenging the nullification of her election to the Presidency of AGN and also challenging the legitimacy of the Presidency of Emeka Ike and his exco.
“The implication of this judgment is that Engr. Emeka Ike led exco remains the only authentic and lawful leaders of Actors Guild of Nigeria.
“The Honourable Court vehemently reiterated the position of the judicial authority that, Ibinabo, her purported exco members and the Board of Trustees vacate forthwith the office of AGN both at the National and State level.
“Accordingly, also surrender all AGN assets at their unlawful possession to the incumbent EngrEmeka Ike’s Government,” the statement had said.
The implication of this judgment however, is that the Emeka Ike-led executive remains the only authentic and lawful leadership of AGN.
The controversial actor known for his ‘bad boy’ roles, in a chat with The Punch, said his victory at the court had nothing to do with Ibinabo’s predicament.
“This case is different and if Ibinabo is going to go to jail for my own case, they should come and beg me. Instead of them to come and beg me, they are still going to the press to say all sorts of rubbish about me.
“There is still a second jail term for Ibinabo. It is called contempt of court and it would also include Segun Arinze.
“People have threatened to kill me but I am not scared of them. I am waiting for them and I would look them in the face and tell them that they are evil and I am righteous.
“I did not take the issue to the police but straight to the court and I am happy that justice has been served. Anyone that ties Ibinabo’s plight to my victory is only trying to blackmail me and I know they would not stop blackmailing me.
“How can anyone say that I sent Ibinabo to jail? Am I the Giwa family or the government?
“How can I be happy that Ibinabo has been sentenced to jail? I feel very bad. The people saying that I am happy about the sentence are actually Ibinabo’s enemies.
“I feel bad about Ibinabo’s situation but the predicament could have been prevented if she was more remorseful over the death of Dr. Giwa, (the young man who was knocked down by the actress over a decade ago).
“It is unfortunate she surrounded herself with sycophants who led her to jail,” he added.
“This is a lady that was used because of the powers she could garner and control. Some people were using her and now that they have messed her up, they are still using her in prison.
“Ibinabo would never say that Emeka Ike sent her to jail, it is impossible because she knows why she is there. What I was only telling Nigerians is that people of Ibinabo’s status do not contest for any public office. Should we stop telling the truth? She had a criminal issue in court. Let’s leave sentiments, we have to be realistic.
“I cannot be happy about her predicament because it is rather unfortunate that she is surrounded by the wrong people and advisers; she was surrounded by sycophants. Instead of them to tell her how to solve her problem, they were pushing her to jail and now that she is in jail, they will not leave her alone.
“Why did they not advise her to form a team and go to Giwa’s family house and roll on the floor for forgiveness? They could have sent her away for days but they would not send her away forever. We are a cultural people, I am sure that after going repeatedly, an elder in the family would plead on her behalf and say something like, ‘our son is dead and nothing can bring him back, let us just forgive her.’
“She should have been very remorseful but she wasn’t. We told Nigerians that some of us would not agree but they began to call us names because we took the matter to court,” he said.
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