Following the event in 2016 that saw a Canadian based producer, Jude Idada take Omoni Oboli to court over copyright infringement claims on the movie ‘Okafor’s Law’ which Oboli released, a court has stopped the premier of the movie in Nigeria.
The movie was supposed to premiere at IMAX Cinema yesterday, but as a result of the injunction which came at about 5pm yesterday, the scheduled screening of “Okafor’s Law” didn’t hold.
In tears, she addressed the people who came to grace the occasion, saying:
“I’m so honoured that you’re all here today, thank you so much. Thank you for honouring me, thank you for your support over the years, thank you for always being there when I call. It means so much to me, and I don’t take it for granted. ”
“I was really looking forward to showing you the movie tonight. The movie screened at Toronto International Film Festival, Stockholm International Film Festival and in America, but all that is nothing if Nigerian people don’t see it. ”
“Unfortunately, we can’t show the film. At 5pm, we got an injunction from the court not to show this film. I’m sure some of you heard some allegation sometime ago, but, my story, my script, my movie, was written 100% by me. You can take that to the bank.”
What anybody says, what anybody does, it’s all a lie. I don’t know why this is happening, I work hard. ”
“It’s a shame that anybody would want to stop this. I mean, it has been a long process, we shot this movie last year, we have gone everywhere, we have put in so much money, publicity and everything, and some people are trying to stop it. ”
“God is on the throne and it’s fine. It will all come out in the wash. This is not going to stop me, I’m going to keep pushing. ”
“I could have gone ahead to show this film today, but, I’m a law abiding citizen and I have to follow the law, unfortunately.
“I believe that it is bullying, I believe that it is abuse of the law, and we are going to take this up. ”
