Days after grabbing attention with his assertion that actress and director Funke Akindele offered him only ₦90,000 for a month’s work in her project titled “Ijoba Lande,” Ijoba Lande walks back his comments.
Kehinde Ganiyu
Akahas has retraced his earlier statements, offering a sincere apology and elucidating what he now characterizes as a misinterpreted scenario.
In his first report, Lande conveyed his astonishment regarding the purported sum he received for his work on set at Amen Estate.
“There was a time called me for a movie production at Amen Estate, and we spent one month there. I was shocked when she gave me N90,000 after spending one month,” he said in a video.
His story resonated with many budding creatives, echoing long-standing concerns about underpayment and exploitation in the film industry. Lande even advised upcoming actors to avoid idolising celebrities and ensure clear financial agreements are in place before taking on roles.
However, the story has abruptly changed direction now.
A day or two later, Lande released another video where he was clearly upset. Kneeling down towards the camera, he begged for pardon and took back what he had previously said.
He claims that the initial video was altered and misinterpreted, mentioning that he originally stated ₦190,000 instead of ₦90,000, but an oversight led people to focus on the smaller amount.
He further elucidated the actual series of events occurring backstage during the production. According to Lande, his absence from the set began when he became discontented with the compensation agreed upon. It was at this juncture that Funke Akindele took the initiative to contact him directly.
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As he mentioned, their conversation resulted in an adjusted fee, which was set within the range of ₦55,000 to ₦65,000 daily. He emphasizes that Akindele demonstrated nothing but professionalism and respect towards him throughout.
Lande mentioned, “She personally contacted me when I faced difficulties appearing.” After our conversation, he continued, “My payment was revised accordingly. I never felt disrespected throughout this process.”
Lande delivered his apology with an emotionally charged demeanor as he sought public assistance in reconciling with the prominent actress.
Throughout his address, he repeatedly voiced concerns about potential legal repercussions and implored them not to ostracize or blacklist him for what he currently refers to as a simple misinterpretation.
Please don’t ruin everything,” he pleaded. “Help me plead with her… I genuinely feel remorseful.
He mentioned his part in the 2018 family sitcom, where he had a recurring character as a gatekeeper—a role he spoke about appreciatively. He pointed out that this previous partnership marked one of his initial chances to work on TV.
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