A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has granted leave to the Isale Eko Descendants Union to seek an order of mandamus to compel the Lagos State Video and Film Censors Board to impose an N10 billion fine against the producers of the controversial film, Gangs of Lagos.
The Union is seeking this penalty against the film producers for the “wrongful and illegal depiction of Isale Eko as a den of criminals and the Eyo Masquerade as a gang of murderers”.
The court has also allowed Isale Eko’s descendants to apply for judicial review and seek an order of mandamus directing the Attorney General of Lagos State and Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board to sanction the film producers under the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State.
The presiding judge, Honourable Justice Idowu Alakija, recently granted the leave for judicial review in an ex parte application brought by the Applicants pursuant to section 3 of the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State and the High Court Civil Procedure Rules.
Alakija granted the leave after hearing arguments of Counsel for Isale Eko descendants Union and 2 ors – Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN), Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), Mr. Aderemi Bashua (SAN), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, Akinwale Irokosu, Adesamola Alebiosu, Temi Tayo-Tiwo and, Oyinkansola Tunde-Braimoh among others.
The Applicants comprise Isale Eko Descendants’ Union, Chief Ayodele Bajulaiye, who sued on behalf of the Bajulaiye Chieftaincy Family and Eyo Iga Bajulaiye, and Chief Abdul-Waheed Ayeni who sued on behalf of the Sasore
Chieftaincy Family and Eyo Iga Sasore.
The Applicants are challenging Mrs. Jadesola Osiberu, Ms. Kemi Lala-Akindoju, Mr. Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Mr. Olumide Soyombo, Mr. Bankole Wellington, Mrs. Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Mr. Kola Aina, Greoh Limited and Amazon Web Services Nigeria for the alleged sacrilegious and scandalous depiction of the Eyo Masquerade in the movie which was released globally on Amazon Prime Videos.
In her decision, Alakija granted the applicants’ leave to apply for an order of mandamus against the Lagos State Video and Film Censors Board to ban the said film for its false and defamatory depiction of the Eyo masquerade.
Alakija also granted the applicants leave to apply for judicial review and to seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling the attorney general and Lagos State Video and Film Censors Board to perform their statutory duty under the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State and revoke the licence and approval granted to Greoh Studios and ‘The Make it Happen Productions’, the producers of “Gangs of Lagos” for depicting Isale Eko as a den of criminals and Eyo Masquerade as a gang of murderers and assassins.
The judge further granted the applicants leave “to apply for judicial review and to seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling the attorney general and Lagos State Video and Film Censors Board to perform their statutory duty under the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State and seize the proceeds from exploitation and streaming of the illegal and defamatory depiction of Isale Eko as a den of criminals and Eyo Masquerade, as a gang of murderers and assassins in the ‘Gangs of Lagos’ movie.
She granted the applicants leave “to apply for judicial review and to seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling the attorney general and Lagos State Video and Film Censors Board to perform their statutory duty under the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State and impose a fine of N10 billion against the producers of the Gangs of Lagos movie….”
The judge granted the applicants leave “to apply for judicial review and to seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling the attorney general and Lagos State Video and Film Censors Board to perform their statutory duty under the Criminal Laws of Lagos State by instituting criminal prosecution for criminal defamation against the producers of the Gangs of Lagos movie for illegal and defamatory depiction of Isale Eko as a den of criminals and Masquerade, as a gang of murderers and assassins.
In a statement by its Chairman, Yomi Tokosi, the Isale-Eko Descendants Union said it would like to reiterate that it is committed to the protection of the interests of the community and its environs, particularly its cultural heritage and traditions like the revered Eyo Masquerade Festival and its icons.
According to the statement, “we will not accept the desecration of our tradition and cultural heritage and will not relent until justice is done.”