HEADLINE: Adedibu Family Demands ₦500 Million as Filmmaker Rejects Biopic Controversy

ENTERTAINMENT NEWs

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

A controversy has erupted in Nollywood following a dispute between the family of late Ibadan political heavyweight, Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, and filmmaker Seun Oloketuyi over a biographical movie titled Adedibu: Alagbara Ibadan.

According to a report by Premium Times, published on October 11, the family has demanded the removal of the film, a public apology and ₦500 million in damages, alleging that the production was released without their consent and contains misleading accounts of the late politician’s private life and political career.

However, the filmmaker has rejected the demands, maintaining that the movie draws on publicly available information about Adedibu’s life and political influence.

The film, produced through Ultimate Communications and directed by Abiodun Jimoh, features veteran actor Lere Paimo in the lead role, alongside other Nollywood actors.

The National Film and Video Censors Board subsequently classified and approved the production with a rating of 15. However, the approval does not settle the separate dispute over the film’s accuracy or the family’s legal claims.

The disagreement has reignited discussions about creative freedom, historical storytelling and the responsibility of filmmakers when portraying the lives of prominent public figures.

As the controversy continues, questions remain about where filmmakers should draw the line between documenting public history and respecting the concerns of a subject’s family.