The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has issued a statement clarifying why it cannot pursue legal action against actress Adanma Luke following the tragic death of actor Pope Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope.
The guild cited legal and membership constraints, which mean that only the actor’s immediate family or wife has the legal standing to file a lawsuit.
Junior Pope, along with four crew members, tragically lost his life on April 10, 2024, when their boat capsized on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta State, during the filming of The Other Side of Life, a movie produced by Adanma Luke.
The incident led to a suspension for Luke from the AGN, though the suspension was lifted in August.
Emeka Rollas, President of the AGN, explained in an interview on Arise TV that the guild’s legal adviser had reviewed the contract Junior Pope had signed with the producer and concluded that the AGN lacked the legal authority to sue.
Rollas emphasized that only Pope’s direct family or wife could pursue legal action against the producer.
Additionally, Rollas revealed that the late actor was not a dues-paying member of the guild, which prevented him from benefiting from the guild’s support.
“From the contract that Junior Pope signed with the producer, the AGN did not have the locum to sue. Either the direct family or the wife should sue the producer,” Rollas stated.
The AGN president also took the opportunity to discuss the ongoing efforts to restructure the guild.
These reforms include the introduction of licensing for actors, which aims to address the issue of member dues and improve contractual standards.
Rollas stressed that these changes are necessary to prevent similar legal challenges in the future and to strengthen the guild’s support for its members.