Court okays application seeking N10bn fine on ‘Gangs of Lagos’ producers

A Lagos high court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square has granted leave to Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU) to seek the imposition of N10 billion fine on producers of ‘Gangs of Lagos‘.

Directed by Jade Osiberu and produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju, ‘Gangs of Lagos’ was released on Amazon’s Prime Video on April 7.

The movie tells the tale of a group of friends who have to navigate destiny while growing up on the streets of Lagos.

But the project attracted backlash over the alleged wrongful depiction of Isale Eko as a den of criminals and the Eyo Masquerade as a gang of murderers.

According to Arise TV, the court, in its recent ruling, granted leave to the IDU to pursue an order compelling the Lagos attorney-general and the state video and film censors board to impose the fine on the movie producers. 

The applicants had argued that the movie violated the cinematograph law of Lagos.

In the suit, the Isale Eko descendants accused Soberu, Akindoju, Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Olumide Soyombo, Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Kola Aina, Greoh Limited and Amazon web services Nigeria of “false depiction” of the Eyo masquerade.

In her ruling, Idowu Alakija, the presiding judge, granted the IDU permission to apply for a judicial review and seek an order of mandamus directing the Lagos attorney-general and the board to seize proceeds accrued from the streaming of the project.

The court also okayed the leave following submissions of counsel to Isale Eko’s descendants and others in the suit.

Alakija further approved the application by the complainants to pursue an order compelling the Lagos attorney-general and the board to prosecute the movie producers for “criminal defamation”.