Actors’ Crisis: Arinze, Others May Go To Jail
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja has warned that National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Segun Arinze and other members of the guild’s Board of Trustees, BOT, may go to jail if found guilty of a case filed against them by Emeka Ike, a factional President of the guild.
In suit number FHC/L/CS/1216/2010, filed on 28 January, this year, Emeka Ike had prayed that the court should declare an election conducted by the other faction of AGN on 7 January, 2011 null and void.
He also prayed that the court should compel the BOT to appear and explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for conducting an election when there is a pending court ruling that the status quo should be maintained.
Presiding on the case , Justice Mohammed Idris said he would give the accused parties a benefit of doubt to prove their innocence before taking necessary action.
The judge said he would not hesitate to send the defendants to jail if they are eventually found guilty of the offence after hearing the application. The case has been adjourned till Friday 25 February 2011.
Counsel to Emeka Ike, Malcolm Omirhobo, said he hopes that on the next adjourned date, justice will prevail.
But counsel to Segun Arinze, Barrister Ezenwa told said his client was not part of the election in question.
According to him, the election was conducted by the Lagos State Chapter of the guild, not the national body headed by Arinze.
On Friday 7 January 2011, an election conducted by filmmaker, Theodore Anyaji saw Emeka Rising-Ibeh emerge as the new Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of AGN. The election was held at Calabar Hall, Surulere.
The crisis in AGN started some years back during the tenure of Ejike Asiegbu, the former National President of the guild.
After the expiration of his tenure, Ejike Asiegbu refused to vacate the seat or conduct a fresh election, so the BOT headed by Ifeanyi Dike hearkened to the yearnings of AGN members, suspended Ejike and appointed veteran actor, Kanayo. O. Kanayo, KOK, as the Interim President of the guild.
When Ejike realised that KOK was planning to organise an election, he quickly went to Port Harcourt and conducted an election that saw Segun Arinze emerge as President.
KOK also went ahead to conduct a parallel election through which Emeka Ike was made factional president.
However, the drama took a new twist when Segun Arinze surrendered his mandate to the BOT, saying that he wants peace to reign in the guild and consequently, the guild decided to form a government of national unity that was agreed to be headed by Arinze.
But Emeka Ike, KOK and some other members were not in support of the decision.
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja has warned that National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Segun Arinze and other members of the guild’s Board of Trustees, BOT, may go to jail if found guilty of a case filed against them by Emeka Ike, a factional President of the guild.
In suit number FHC/L/CS/1216/2010, filed on 28 January, this year, Emeka Ike had prayed that the court should declare an election conducted by the other faction of AGN on 7 January, 2011 null and void.
He also prayed that the court should compel the BOT to appear and explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for conducting an election when there is a pending court ruling that the status quo should be maintained.
Presiding on the case , Justice Mohammed Idris said he would give the accused parties a benefit of doubt to prove their innocence before taking necessary action.
The judge said he would not hesitate to send the defendants to jail if they are eventually found guilty of the offence after hearing the application. The case has been adjourned till Friday 25 February 2011.
Counsel to Emeka Ike, Malcolm Omirhobo, said he hopes that on the next adjourned date, justice will prevail.
But counsel to Segun Arinze, Barrister Ezenwa told said his client was not part of the election in question.
According to him, the election was conducted by the Lagos State Chapter of the guild, not the national body headed by Arinze.
On Friday 7 January 2011, an election conducted by filmmaker, Theodore Anyaji saw Emeka Rising-Ibeh emerge as the new Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of AGN. The election was held at Calabar Hall, Surulere.
The crisis in AGN started some years back during the tenure of Ejike Asiegbu, the former National President of the guild.
After the expiration of his tenure, Ejike Asiegbu refused to vacate the seat or conduct a fresh election, so the BOT headed by Ifeanyi Dike hearkened to the yearnings of AGN members, suspended Ejike and appointed veteran actor, Kanayo. O. Kanayo, KOK, as the Interim President of the guild.
When Ejike realised that KOK was planning to organise an election, he quickly went to Port Harcourt and conducted an election that saw Segun Arinze emerge as President.
KOK also went ahead to conduct a parallel election through which Emeka Ike was made factional president.
However, the drama took a new twist when Segun Arinze surrendered his mandate to the BOT, saying that he wants peace to reign in the guild and consequently, the guild decided to form a government of national unity that was agreed to be headed by Arinze.
But Emeka Ike, KOK and some other members were not in support of the decision.
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