IBINABO STORMS COURT OF APPEAL OVER SACK JUDGEMENT, as AGN rally around her

A few hours after the controversial judgment of Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Lagos nullified the election of the first female president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), the President, Ibinabo Fiberisima had stormed the Court of Appeal, Lagos to challenge the said ruling.

The River State born thespians who hosted the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in an all star interactive session last Sunday, 15th March, 2015, has given order to her lawyers to file the appeal on the judgment.

According to the National Secretary of the AGN, Abubakar Sanusi Yakub, "Ibinabo is challenging the judgment since she believes that the judge do not understand the case before making his judgment. That case has been backdated twice since 2011. There is no validating in the case and the judgment Moreover she has nothing in common with Emeka Ike and his proxies. She did not contest any election with him. So how could he have the right to challenge her elections?"

It could be recalled that the trouble with Emeka Ike and the AGN dates back over six years. He had gone to court to lay claim of the presidency of the actors' guild after the former president of the AGN, Segun Arinze was made the body's interim president.

Emeka, an actor and erstwhile school administrator, who closed down his private school for lack of managerial ability and politics, continued his fight with Ibinabo as soon as she was elected for her first term. Saber-rattling and rabble rouser Emeka Ike would not let peace be not even after Ibinabo concluded her first term and was subsequently elected for her second tenure last November, 2014.

Meanwhile a cross section of the movie industry has started to drum up support for the Ibinabo led AGN government. As early as 9 am today, the 17th of March, 2015, a day after the court pronouncement, members of the AGN could be seen around the guild's headquarters at 19 Ajao Road, Surulere voicing their unflinching solidarity for the present leadership under Ibinabo. One of those chanting solidarity songs at the Ajao office this morning was one time chairman of the AGN Lagos chapter and Emeka Ike's former henchman, Emeka Rising Ibe.
In a media chat, Rising whodecamped the Emeka Ike's faction of the AGN after a long spell with the splinter group, said that his decision for leaving the camp was for the good of the AGN and movie industry in Nigeria.

"I was with Emeka Ike before but had to change and turn back to the Ibinabo led AGN because I have seen that the betterment of the body lies with her. Now I have become an enemy to Emeka Ike and Don Pedro Aganbi. My advice to them to reconcile with Ibinabo failed. I told them that there is always a time for fight and a time for peace. Emeka Ike should not be allowed to destroy the guild. Ibinabo is the right person for that job and we are going to do everything possible to support her government," Rising said.