Popular Nollywood actor Kunle Afod has disclosed that a deadly robbery incident at a Lagos hotel exposed tensions over actors' welfare, ultimately triggering his exit from the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP). The incident occurred at Moslado Hotel in Isolo, Lagos State, where Afod and other members of a film crew were staying while shooting a movie. The crew returned to the hotel around midnight, only to wake up to find the premises surrounded by police officers.
According to Afod, the hotel receptionist was found to have been macheted to death during an overnight robbery. Other hotel workers had been locked inside a kitchen with transparent glass windows during the attack and were able to see the people responsible for the killing. The suspects were people who had stayed at the hotel for about a week, similar to Afod and his colleagues. This led to the film crew being taken to the police station, where they were questioned over the incident.
Afod stated that the police eventually asked them to contact their industry bosses to confirm their identities and establish that they were not involved in the robbery. The crew contacted their bosses, who instructed them to contribute money for the police and fuel after leaving the station. This experience made Afod and other actors question the purpose of the financial contributions they were making to ANTP and whether the association could provide assistance to members in difficult situations.
At the time, actors paid levies on productions and made monthly contributions to ANTP. Afod estimated that about 40 films were released every two weeks, with each production paying ₦10,000 to the association. This amounted to approximately ₦400,000 every two weeks, ₦800,000 monthly, and ₦8 million within 10 months. The actors sought to know whether the money contributed by members could be used to support practitioners who encountered emergencies or difficulties.
The association's leadership explained that the funds were being used to maintain its office, but this explanation did not resolve the actors' concerns over accountability. The disagreement resulted in the actors walking away from ANTP after the leadership told dissatisfied members that they were free to leave. Afod clarified that he was not the person who led the group out of the association, identifying fellow actor Ibrahim Chatta as the person who led the exit.
The incident and subsequent disagreement highlighted concerns over the management and accountability of funds within ANTP. Afod's revelation provides insight into the challenges faced by practitioners in the entertainment industry and the need for transparent and effective management of funds within professional associations. The incident also raises questions about the role of ANTP in supporting its members.
Afod's comments have sparked a conversation about the welfare of actors and the management of funds within ANTP. The association's leadership has not publicly commented on the matter, but the incident has brought attention to the need for greater transparency and accountability within the organization. The exit of Afod and other actors from ANTP may have implications for the association and the entertainment industry as a whole.
Key points
- Kunle Afod exited ANTP due to concerns over the association's management of funds and lack of support for members in difficult situations.
