Iyabo Ojo apologises to TAMPAN – days after sanction

Iyabo Ojo, Nollywood actress, has apologised to the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) — about four days after she was blacklisted by the guild.

TAMPAN had on June 27 instructed its members to desist from engaging with her over acts that it said “bring the association and the industry to disrepute”.

The guild also promised to “work against” Nkechi Blessing, another Nollywood actress.

The sanctions had followed multiple social media rows involving Ojo and other colleagues in the industry, including Yomi Fabiyi, over the case of Baba Ijesha, who was accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl.

Ojo had initially opposed the group’s injunction, stressing that she cannot be silenced when it comes to the issue of child molestation in Nigeria.

But on Thursday, Iyabo Ojo shared a 10-minute virtual interview between Esther Aboderin, an American-based blogger, and Bolaji Amusan, TAMPAN president, on her Instagram page.

She also accompanied the video with a lengthy note wherein she apologised to the guild and revered veteran actors. Ojo called for peace and love to prevail.

“To an able and ever-humble president of TAMPAN, thank you very much, sir. Our big daddies: Adebayo Salami, Jide Kosoko, and Yinka Quadri,” she wrote.

“On behalf of Nkechi Blessing, my darling aburo and my humble self, we apologise to you sirs. We’re sorry for getting you upset. You’re our elders and leaders; we respect you, we’re humbled before you, we will forever appreciate you and honour you. It’s all peace and love.”

During the interview, Amusan, who is better known as Mr Latin, explained that as a leader, he cannot choose to neglect both actresses, noting that whatever infraction they committed has been forgiven.

“If a person has 100 cows in his care and one goes astray, the person will go and look for the stray cow as a good leader. So, I cannot neglect Iyabo, neither can I do the same thing for Nkechi. Where she had offended has been amended,” he said.

“As leaders and elders, we have to embrace them more for things to go on peacefully. The improvement of our industry is what is paramount to us.”

He also urged all aggrieved parties to stop using the media to exacerbate Baba Ijesa’s case, stressing that the case is still in court.