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Passing of Junior Pope: Legal Action Against Movie Producer Adamma Luke and the Movie Producers Association Due to Neglect

 

Adamma Luke, responsible for producing "The Other Side Of Life," finds herself and the Movie Producers Association at the center of a lawsuit following a grievous boat mishap during the film's production, resulting in the loss of Nollywood star, John Paul Odonwodo, famously known as Junior Pope, along with four additional individuals on the River Niger.

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has voiced its intention to file a lawsuit against the Movie Producers Association and Adamma Luke for their alleged oversight leading to the untimely demise of Junior Pope and four others during the movie's shoot.

In an appearance on The Morning Show with Arise News Television, Emeka Rollas, AGN's National President, disclosed plans for legal actions against Luke and the association for their neglect and the absence of adequate security measures for the actors and film crew.

Reports from TRENDS highlighted that Junior Pope, along with four crew members, including a makeup artist and a sound engineer, tragically drowned in the River Niger amidst a boat trip for Luke's film production.

Following the catastrophic loss of Junior Pope and his co-workers, the AGN declared an indefinite suspension on the shooting of films involving river scenes and the use of boats. Additionally, a cease on collaboration with Adamma Luke by actors has been enacted until further notice.

During the dialogue on the Arise News Television program, when queried about who bears the responsibility of ensuring safety protocols during film productions, Rollas elucidated, “Our legal team is in the process of drafting the necessary paperwork since the case is actionable. I’m on hold for a detailed report from the committee we’ve designated to investigate the incident. Notably, the day before Junior Pope's passing, there was a lack of life jackets on a boat trip, revealed by footage Junior Pope shared on Instagram, showing passengers without safety gear."

Rollas also recollected another negligence incident involving a producer who employed an unlicensed driver lacking driving skills. This negligence resulted in an accident where actor Emmanuel Ayalogu was injured, incurring significant medical expenses borne by the AGN.

He emphasized, “We witnessed another scenario where an unlicensed driver hired by a producer caused an accident, injuring Emmanuel Ayalogu seriously. The Guild was left to undertake his medical expenses, costing millions of Naira, while the concerned producer offered minimal assistance.

“This profession isn’t about nepotism. It's strictly a business domain. Producers should invest in their projects. Hiring an actor means compensating them for their performance. The industry doesn’t thrive on favors or the absence of financial support.”