“The Shadow of Greed” Wears Greed Like a Crown Nigerians Know Too Well

Most Nigerians are familiar with the stories: local communities hosting multi-billion-naira construction or oil projects are promised relief, development, and compensation — and end up with polluted land, broken promises, and silence. Burna Boy has sung about it. Ken Saro-Wiwa and the “Ogoni Nine” died fighting it. But “The Shadow of Greed” marks one of the few times this reality is explored on the big screen through a fictional lens, and it does so with all the corruption, politicking, and spiritual warfare associated with Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure deals.

The conflict here doesn’t play out in the oil-rich Niger Delta, where such stories usually take place. Instead, it’s set in Ajaka, a town in the Odua kingdom of Western Nigeria. The China International Construction Company (CICON) is awarded the Lagos-Dakar interstate highway contract and begins work in Ajaka, implementing what should be standard corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts — hiring local workers, distributing relief materials, and compensating the community.

Standing firmly in the way is Ajaka’s paramount ruler, Oba Adebukola (played by Toke Makinwa). In public, she wears faded clothes, drives an old SUV, and maintains the image of a modest traditional ruler. But it’s a front. The UK-educated Oba parties in Lagos on weekends and funds her lavish lifestyle by diverting CSR materials meant for her people. “Cut” is putting it mildly — her subjects get next to nothing.

The balance shifts when Jerry Chen (Kent S. Leung), CICON’s new project manager, arrives and refuses to participate in her corrupt dealings. But Oba Adebukola isn’t used to rejection. She retaliates with deception, blackmail, voodoo, and death threats — pulling out every weapon in her arsenal to bring him to heel.

The conflict between Chen and Adebukola echoes the classic tale of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. Or, as Nigerians would say, “dem no gree for each other.” A standout moment in the third act pits African voodoo against a Chinese mythical dragon,  a wild, breath-holding sequence that somehow blends suspense, myth, and spectacle in a way only Nollywood can pull off.

Leung delivers a grounded performance as Chen. His evolution  from a hopeful contractor eager to do right, to a man overwhelmed by the layers of rot, to someone determined to push back , feels earned. It’s a performance that stands out in a film where not all the acting is up to par. That said, Toke Makinwa does more than hold her own. Her portrayal of Oba Adebukola is cold, commanding, and terrifying. You root for Chen not just because he’s doing the right thing, but because her villainy leaves you no choice.

Oba Adebukola is clearly an allegory for many real-life Nigerian leaders who broker backdoor deals with foreign corporations to exploit the very people they were chosen to protect. It’s no accident that Ajaka, like so many real communities in oil-rich regions, ends up worse off than its neighbors not because it lacks resources, but because of betrayal from within.

Director Akay Mason, known for “Red Circle,” layers this corruption narrative with subtle but biting social critiques. One is the dangerous gullibility of the oppressed. Ajaka’s residents continue to hold their Oba in high regard, even as she steals from them in plain sight ,  a reflection to how poor Nigerians often defend the very politicians who harm them. A quick but cutting scene also highlights the deadly bureaucracy of Nigeria’s medical-legal system, specifically the law that bars hospitals from treating gunshot victims without police reports — a rule that has cost countless lives.

“The Shadow of Greed” is bold in theme and ambitious in scope, but it’s not without flaws. The title itself feels a bit dated;  reminiscent of old Nollywood cautionary tales — and doesn’t quite match the film’s modern texture. More critically, it ends with a vague, unsatisfying cliffhanger. This is fast becoming a trend in Nollywood thrillers: open-ended finales that hint at sequels we may never get. A strong story deserves a strong conclusion — not just a setup for another film.

Still, this is one of the better social thrillers from Nollywood in recent memory. “The Shadow of Greed” dares to interrogate power, challenge complicity, and blend folklore with real-world politics in a way that feels uniquely Nigerian. It may be messy in parts, but its message lands.

Release Date: June 20, 2025
Runtime: Approximately two hours
Streaming Service: None – Cinematic Release
Directed by: Akay Mason
Cast: Kent S. Leung, Toke Makinwa, Gabriel Afolayan, Akin Lewis, Tomiwa Tegbe, Antar Laniyan, Olumide Oworu, Jennifer Nsofor, Victoria Nwobodo, Jide Peniel, and Chunmel Wang