Femi Adebayo, the Nollywood producer, is celebrating a major win against film piracy after a three-year legal battle.

In a post via his X page on Tuesday, the 45-year-old, known for his roles in Yoruba films, detailed his struggles and recent court victory.

The film star also highlighted the adverse effects of piracy on the growth of the Nigerian movie industry.

He said he had been a “victim of movie pirates” and always ensures that he never “spares them”.

Adebayo said a media company, which owns a radio station and distributes content on YouTube, used the poster and title of ‘Survival of Jelili’, his movie, to promote another film, thereby misleading fans and diverting revenue.

The movie star said he pursued legal action and after three years of litigation, the court ruled in his favor, awarding him N25 million.

The actor, who did not mention the company’s name, described the victory as “a win for all of Nollywood”.

“The Nigerian film industry has experienced exponential growth over the years, but we haven’t been able to maximise the true dividends of this business because of dare devil pirates who benefit where they didn’t sow,” he wrote.

“This is a major reason why investors find it hard to commit their funds to filmmakers. However, through persistence and the use of the legal framework covering intellectual property, we can bring their activities to a gradual halt.

“Several times, I have been a victim of movie pirates and I never spare them. I recently concluded a legal battle with a notable media company that owns a big radio station and also engages in youtube content distribution.

“During the cinema run of “Survival of Jelili” in 2019, my movie was gathering good numbers at that time. They decided to use my movie poster and title to promote a movie on their platform, thereby deceiving fans and diverting revenue accrued to me.

“It took 3 years, but my trust in the legal and justice system remained unwavering. With the dedication of our legal team, Bola Adebowale & Co Legal Practitioners, who are seasoned professionals with wealth of experience in handling such cases.

The Nigerian film industry has experienced exponential growth over the years, but we haven't been able to maximise the true dividends of this business because of dare devil pirates who benefit where they didn't sow. This is a major reason why investors find it hard to commit… https://t.co/ejzKS7ONwj

— Femi Adebayo (@realfemiadebayo) May 7, 2024

“They presented undeniable evidence, put up a strong argument, and took the case to trial. Their promptness, efficiency, and attention to detail played a huge part in the direction of the case. We won and were awarded a total of Twenty Five Million Naira.

“This isn’t just my win as a filmmaker and content producer but a win for all of Nollywood. We need to be ready to fight IP theft and piracy at all levels. Every win brings us closer to protecting and getting the true economic value of our works.”

Portable, the controversial singer, has acquired a luxury house in the Lekki area of Lagos state.

Lekki is a fast-growing neighborhood in Lagos and is widely considered one of the most affluent areas in the city.

The 30-year-old, who is currently in Nairobi, Kenya with one of his partners, took to social media on Monday to show off his new mansion.

Portable, who resides in Sango Ota, Ogun, shared a video of the exterior and interior of his Lekki house while appreciating God for the new achievement.

“Alhamdulilahi, am going close am about to blow. CEO Dr ZEHNATION Coming to Lekki iyen oto. Who get God get everything. @abel_egbarin God bless you king Of boiz mafian presidential,” he said.

Nollywood veteran Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) has highlighted hypocrisy as one of the biggest issues in the church.

Speaking as a guest on the King of Talks podcast hosted by Teju Babyface, the actor stated that his views about God and Christianity are unconventional.

“My idea of Christ in today’s world and how we should embrace him is probably not very traditional. But I think the Lord says ‘That’s why I brought you here.’ so I stir quite a bit of controversy everywhere I speak. I think that I am appointed for a time like this, to do it unconventionally,” he said.

“Someone was telling me about someone doing a podcast about faith and stardom and I said I’d love to do that. Why? Because of the way Christians are wired. We were wired to think that the spirit of excellence should not be in you being a distiller. They thing that a distiller of whiskey shouldn’t be called a Christian. Why? It’s a craft,” he said.

RMD emphasised that the essence of Christianity is for Christians to be able to come just as they are to the church.

He said, “People built boats in the period that Christ lived. People owned vineyards and produced all the best wines in the area at the time. If they wanted to be followers of Christ, they could. That’s the whole essence of following Christ. Come as you are.”

“People are meant to come as they are. You can’t stop people from coming to Christ the way that they are. it’s when they come that their renewal starts. So let them come and then function in the societies where they find themselves in a way that can bring people to Christ without being hypocritical. I think that’s one of the biggest problems of today’s church. It’s hypocrisy,” he concluded.

See the full interview below: