“I Didn’t See a Dime” — Okunnu Accuses Movie Marketer Olasco of Withholding Payment

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Veteran Nollywood comic actor Wale Akorede Okunnu, popularly known as Okunnu, has accused movie marketer Olasco Films of failing to compensate him for a film project he claims to have solely created.

The actor made the allegation during a recent interview with media personality Olugbenga Oropo Valentine on the Saworo programme, a clip of which has since gone viral on social media. In the interview, Okunnu expressed deep frustration over what he described as years of unresolved financial injustice connected to the project.

According to the actor, the disagreement dates back several years and remains unsettled despite repeated reflections on the matter. He said the film was released commercially and performed well in the market, yet he never received any form of payment from the marketer.

Okunnu described the situation as painful, noting that the proceeds from the film represented the result of his hard work and personal investment. He lamented that, despite his efforts, he was not paid even a symbolic amount after the project’s release.

“I once did a movie for Olasco and he didn’t give me anything. Not even ₦5 for pure water till this moment. I don’t know if I will later be paid on judgement day. I haven’t forgiven Olasco,” he said.

The veteran actor went further to identify the individual behind the marketing company, naming him as Akeem Balogun. He stressed that his position on the issue has not changed and that the matter continues to weigh heavily on him.

“Mr Akeem Balogun Olasco, I don’t know about tomorrow, but as at the moment, I haven’t forgiven Olasco,” Okunnu added.

Speaking in greater detail during the interview, Okunnu explained that the disputed project was a film titled Aare, which he said was released in two parts at the same time. He maintained that the movie was entirely his creative work, from conception to execution.

According to him, he personally wrote the script, handled the directing, and also played the lead role, making the project a full expression of his talent and labour. Despite this, he claimed he did not receive any share of the revenue generated from the film.

“I wrote a movie, Aare. I directed it and played the lead role. Both part one and part two were released at the same time. I didn’t see a dime from it. I will be lying if I say Olasco gave me anything from the money made from my sweat,” he stated.

The actor’s comments have reignited conversations about long-standing issues within the Nigerian film industry, particularly around contracts, revenue sharing, and the treatment of creatives by marketers. Many industry observers have noted that disputes of this nature are not uncommon, especially in the era when physical distribution dominated Nollywood.

As of the time of reporting, Olasco Films and Akeem Balogun have not publicly responded to Okunnu’s allegations. The actor, however, appears resolute in his stance, using the interview to document his experience and express lingering disappointment over what he believes remains an unresolved injustice.

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