Filmmaker Jimmy Rolland has accused Nollywood actor Tunde “Okele” Usman of disrupting a movie production, claiming the actor’s behaviour on set forced him to shelve a film project worth about ₦1 million.
Speaking during an appearance on the African A-List podcast, Rolland alleged that disagreements over filming schedules led Okele to walk away from the set while production was still ongoing.
The filmmaker explained that the cast included Okele, Anike Ami and Habeeb Alágbè. According to him, Okele was booked for two days for a fee of ₦200,000, while the other actors were only available for a few hours due to prior commitments.
Rolland said the production team adjusted the shooting schedule to accommodate Anike Ami and Alágbè after Okele reportedly arrived several hours behind schedule.
“It is Okele. I did that work about three months ago. I still have the job in the studio, and I am not sure how to proceed. I gave him ₦200,000 for the two days.
“What happened was that we had an agreement for a two-day shoot. I shot the film in Mowe, Ogun state. I do not live in Mowe. I asked the director and production manager to get him a suitable hotel.
“I called Anike Ami and Habeeb Alágbè. Anike Ami did not have the date. She was going to finish by 12 noon from a set, while the next day she had another movie shoot. She told me she needed to rest from 12 till the evening.
“But because we were close, I asked her to spare me three hours. I also pleaded with Alagbe to also spare me three hours. I thought I had Okele for two days.”
He alleged that Okele, who was expected on set at 9 a.m., did not arrive until 1 p.m.
“Okele did not get to the set on the first day until 1 pm, and he was supposed to be on set by 9 am. We shot only two scenes before Anike arrived. By the time he came, he was also drunk.”
Rolland claimed the situation worsened after the production team focused on filming Anike Ami’s scenes, alleging that Okele became angry and left the location.
“Before we finished shooting for Anike, Okele had angrily left for the hotel. He said why they would leave him and be shooting Anike. He even fought with the staff at the hotel. He did not sleep in the room I secured for him. I even paid for the room he slept in the next day because he made it a condition for him to come for the second-day shoot.
“On the second day, he came by 10 am. He was supposed to shoot nine scenes but left by 5 pm.
“Why would you leave the location without shooting nine scenes, and you expect the success of such a million-naira project?
“From that work, no one can say I owed them money.”
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The filmmaker said he later confronted Okele over the incident but was disappointed by what he described as the actor’s lack of remorse.
“I did not talk about this until we met somewhere. He did not utter the word ‘I am sorry’. I will say it anywhere I go that he is so arrogant. He was not even remorseful from the way he was talking. We almost fought on that day.”
Rolland revealed that he considered taking legal action but eventually dropped the plan after his lawyer advised that the absence of a written contract would weaken the case.
“I really wanted to take the matter up. Everything had been given to my lawyer. I sincerely wanted to tear everything apart.
“But my lawyer told me I could not go ahead because there was no written agreement.”