Embattled Yoruba filmmaker, Olajide Kazeem, aka, Seun Egbegbe, has
spent 31 months in prison custody due to his failure to perfect his
bail conditions.
The erstwhile Lagos socialist, known for his lavish lifestyle, has
been incarcerated since February 10, 2017.
Egbegbe, 43, a controversial figure in the Yoruba movie industry was
arraigned by the police for alleged fraud involving N39 million;
$90,000 and £12,550.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Command of the Nigerian
Correctional Service, Rotimi Oladokun, also confirmed that the
filmmaker is still being held at the Ikoyi prisons.
“It is not our fault. The N5 million bail bond is yet to be paid
neither have any sureties come forward,” Mr Oladokun said.
The police alleged that Egbegbe fraudulently obtained the monies from
them over a period of two years – 2015 to 2017.
He was accused of falsely telling them (the BDC operators) that he had
naira to change into foreign currencies and vice versa.
On March 10, 2017, over 30 BDC operators stormed the court for the trial.
Egbegbe’s lawyer, Adebayo Onifade, told newsmen on Tuesday that his
client has remained in custody because his bail conditions are yet to
be perfected.
“One of the boys who was arraigned alongside Seun has perfected his
bail conditions and gone home and he isn’t as influential as my
client. Even before I took up Seun’s case, he had already been granted
bail and when I came on board I applied for a variation and it was
granted. I think it is just a question of finance or family members.
“By family members, I mean none of his family members are willing to
come forward and stand as a surety for Seun.
This might also be because no one has the money to pay for it. If a
bail condition is yet to be perfected there is absolutely nothing any
lawyer or a defence counsel can do about it.”
During his heydays, the film-maker financed the production of several
Yoruba films under his Ebony Films Productions imprint.
He produced more than 20 movies including ’Ebony Alhaji’,
’Igbayilola’, ’Tani Kabe?’, ’Kura’, ’Ile Olalewu’, ’Ipo Agba’ and
’Odaran’.
Also, Mr Egbegbe’s publicised affair with Nollywood actress, Toyin
Abraham, a few years ago shot him into the limelight.
The relationship, however, ended in a controversial manner.
Nigerian actor, Leye Kuti, recently called out his colleagues for
abandoning Mr Egbegbe at such a critical time.
When contacted Bolaji Amusan (Mr Latin) who is the president of the
Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN)
declined to comment.
He said, “Madam, I don’t have any comment when an issue is in court I
have nothing to say about it. I have no comment.”
Another popular Yoruba actor, Yomi Fabiyi, described Mr Egbegbe’s
predicament as a “pathetic situation”.
“It’s a tricky situation, it’s a pathetic situation, but we all know
that if you are granted bail and don’t fulfill it you can’t be set
free. The thing is this our Yoruba movie industry has caucuses and so
it depends on what caucus you belong to.
“I think you should reach out to people (actors) who have had personal
dealings with him or featured in his films. People like Kunle Afod and
the likes who are closer, and hopefully they are. I am not sure he
belongs to TAMPAN and I don’t know the association he belongs to as a
Yoruba filmmaker. That is one of the benefits of belonging to a
professional body.”
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court ruled that the
filmmaker be granted bail once he meets his bail requirements.
“One of the sureties must be a civil servant who has attained level 16
while the other surety must be a landowner in any part of Lagos
metropolis.
”The landowner must submit a Certificate of Ownership of the landed
property while the civil servant must submit his international
passport to the court.
“The sureties must swear to an affidavit while the house and office
addresses and a telephone number will be verified by the court,” the
judge ruled then.
