Ini Edo, Chinenye Nworah in legal battle over ‘Shanty Town’ ownership

Ini Edo, the actress, and Chinenye Nworah, the film producer, are in a legal battle over the ownership rights to ‘Shanty Town’.

The six-part crime thriller series premiered on Netflix on January 20, 2023.

The star-studded cast includes Chidi Mokeme, Edo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Sola Sobowale, Nancy Isime, Shaffy Bello, and Ali Nuhu, among others.

Edo and Nworah were both listed as the executive producers of the series.

Following the success of ‘Shanty Town’, Netflix was said to have commissioned a second season. The streaming service was also said to have been engaging in talks on story, budget and cast from last year.

But in a leaked cease-and-desist letter filed by Edo’s attorneys to Netflix on January 15, the actress claimed co-ownership and rights to the project.

In the letter, the actress said she began a co-production agreement with Nworah and another partner identified as Joy Odiete on December 13, 2019.

Edo said all parties agreed to produce a slate of five movies within a 10-year timeline.

The actress demanded that the streaming giant cease negotiations with Nworah and Giant Creative Media regarding the potential second season.

“It has come to our client’s attention that Netflix is currently negotiating a sequel to the cinematograph film – Shanty Town with Ms Chinenye Nworah and Giant Creative Media Limited (GCM) without the consent, knowledge or waiver of our client as co-owners of the intellectual property rights over the work Shanty Town,” the legal document reads.

“Please be advised that Ms Chineye Nworah and GCM are not the sole owners of the Intellectual Property Rights over the cinematograph film Shanty Town.

“Our clients are co-owners of the said Intellectual Property Rights and have not authorised, permitted or sanctioned Mrs Chineye Nworah and GCM to discuss any sequel with Nexflix on its behalf.”

Reacting to Edo’s joint ownership claim, Nworah in a statement, said she is the “sole initiator and sole copyright holder of Shanty Town”.

Nworah’s Giant Creative Media Limited (GCM) described the actress’ claim as “false, baseless and without merit”.

“We hereby declare that all rights, including but not limited to copyright, trademarks, and any other intellectual property rights, associated with SHANTY TOWN, belong solely to our creative director, Chinenye Nworah through Giant Creative Media,” the statement reads.