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Veteran filmmaker and actor Lere Paimo, widely known as Eda Onile Ola, has raised an alarm over what he described as an attempt to shortchange him in connection with his iconic Yoruba film Ogbori Elemosho, calling on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and other influential Nigerians to step in.
Paimo made the appeal during a press conference on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where he narrated events surrounding the ownership and proposed remake of the classic movie.
Ogbori Elemosho, which starred Paimo, remains one of the most celebrated Yoruba epic films, with its production history traced by some to the early 1980s, while others believe it dates as far back as the 1960s. The movie is widely regarded as a defining work that helped shape historical drama within Nigeria’s film industry.
Insisting on his ownership of the production, Paimo said the film remains central to his legacy and personal achievements. “The film earned me national recognition, including the award of the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, and contributed to my chieftaincy title of Are Arobajo of Ogbomoso, conferred by the late Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade II,” he stated.
According to the filmmaker, the current Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, had earlier approached him about the possibility of remaking the film and sought an estimate of the production cost. “He estimated the project at about N100 million, after which the monarch suggested that the production could go beyond that budget and requested changes to the script, promising to revert,” Paimo said.
Trouble, however, allegedly began in October 2025 when a group reportedly visited his residence, claiming they had approval from the monarch to proceed with a remake. “They told me they did not need my permission to remake the movie and that they only wanted to give me a ‘gift’ for the work,” he alleged.
Paimo said the group later paid N7.5 million into his account, an action his children reportedly interpreted as manipulation. “Following their advice, I immediately returned the money to the group,” he added.
He further disclosed that his legal representative issued a cease-and-desist letter to the studio involved, warning against moving forward without his consent. Despite this, he claimed the parties insisted they had royal backing and suggested legal action would not favour him.
Calling the situation an attack on his legacy, Paimo recalled the sacrifices he made to produce the original film, including falling into debt and having his vehicle seized at the time. “This work was meant to be a benefit to my children and me, but powerful individuals are attempting to take it away from me,” he lamented.
The actor appealed to prominent Nigerians to help him seek justice. “I want to appeal to Governor Makinde, Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the RCCG, the Commissioner of Police in this state, and sons and daughters of Ogbomoso at home and abroad to intervene in the matter,” he said. He also hinted that those involved might be linked to recent false reports about his death circulating online.
Responding to the allegations, the Public Relations Officer to the Soun of Ogbomoso, Peter Olaleye, described the issue as an internal affair. “The issue, you know, is an in-house matter; Baba (Eda Onile Ola) is one of the Chiefs in Ogbomoso. Baba was contacted when the story was to be released. He was contacted, and he was officially written to. The crew even visited his house,” he said.
Olaleye added that the story being developed does not belong to Paimo alone. “The issue is that of Ogbomoso, and every bona fide son and daughter of Ogbomoso is entitled to the story. So, the story belongs to Ogbomoso, and the story they are even making now is not his own story. It is a new story entirely. The bone of contention is that it’s an in-house matter,” he explained.
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