Nollywood actor Ijoba Lande has issued apology to filmmaker Funke Akindele following heavy criticism from fans and colleagues over a viral video that misrepresented his comments about his past earnings
In an emotional Instagram video posted on Friday, the actor prostrated before the camera, begging Akindele for forgiveness and appealing to the public to help him make peace with her.
“Please help me. Don’t let me end up in jail. Help me beg Funke Akindele,” he pleaded.
Lande clarified that the controversial clip was misleading, claiming it had been edited to distort his original message. According to him, he initially said he was paid ₦190,000 for a month-long role in My Siblings and I back in 2022, but a slip of the tongue during the recording made it sound like ₦90,000 — a figure that was widely circulated.
“The video people are sharing was edited. That’s not how I originally recorded it,” he explained. “I never intended to damage her image. She didn’t offend me.”
He further accused those behind the edited clip of deliberately twisting his words, calling them “wicked,” and appealed to Akindele not to take legal action against him.
“When I was explaining that it was ₦90,000, you cut the video and joined it together… I said it was a mistake, that it was ₦190,000, not ₦90,000,” he said.
Lande also shed light on the context of the discussion, stating that he was highlighting the importance of transparent payment agreements in Nollywood. He used his experience working with Akindele as an example, mentioning that he had no issues with the initial agreement and was satisfied with the payment.
He recalled that after Akindele discovered he was being underpaid, she personally intervened and ensured he was paid a higher daily rate moving forward.
“She asked me how much I was getting paid, and when I told her, she said, ‘Why didn’t you inform me?’ She then arranged for me to be paid ₦55,000 or ₦65,000 per day.”
Reiterating that the misunderstanding was unintentional, Lande begged for understanding and expressed deep regret for the fallout.
“Aunty Funke, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. I don’t have anything against you. If you arrest me, it means you just want to send me to prison because I’m not fighting you. Please, I’m begging you.”
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