According to ThisDay newspaper, the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union and a couple of applicants have taken their complaints to court.
Boss Ayodele Bajulaiye, on behalf of the Bajulaiye Chiefdoms Family and Eyo Iga Bajulaiye, and boss Abdul-Wahid Ayeni, on behalf of the Sasore Headquarters Family and Eyo Iga Sasore, make up the rest of the complaints.
They seek to impose the fine on producers, which include Jadesola Soberu, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Olumide Soyombo, Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Kola Aina, Greoh Limited and Amazon Web Services Nigeria.
The complaints also ask the National Film and Censors Board (NFVCB) to withdraw the approval given to the film.
After hearing his case, a Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square presided over by Judge Idowu Alakija has granted them permission to seek judicial review and apply for a writ of mandamus instructing the Lagos State Attorney General and the Lagos State Board of Film and Video Censors to penalize film producers under the Film Act of the State of Lagos.
“Request judicial review and seek a writ of mandamus ordering and compelling the Attorney General and the Lagos State Board of Film and Video Censors to perform their legal duty under the Lagos State Film Act, to impose a ₦10 billion fine against producers. of the film Gangs of Lagos, and to demand an account of the profits from the exploitation and transmission of the illegal and defamatory portrayal of Isale Eko as a den of criminals and Eyo Masquerade as a gang of assassins and assassins in the film Gangs of Lagos, ” says the court document.
This case comes after the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union initially expressed disappointment with Eyo’s masquerade portrayal as soon as the film began airing in April 2023.
Pointing out the historical heritage of the masquerade, the union frowned at being portrayed in a “despicable and callous manner”.
Like the union, the Lagos Government has also they registered their discontent with the masquerade depiction of Eyo as an armed villain.
Lagos Gangs is the first African original for Prime Video and part of Osiberu three year blanket agreement with the streaming platform.
