Junior Pope: Actors Guild of Nigeria Welcomes Adanma Luke Back to the Fold

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has lifted its suspension on producer Adanma Luke and the ban on riverine filming, four months after a fatal accident claimed the lives of actor Junior Pope and four crew members.

AGN President Ejezie Emeka Rollas announced the decision during the guild’s recent National Executive Council meeting. The restrictions were imposed following the April 10 incident on the Anam River during the production of Luke’s film “Another Side of Life.”

“The National President of the Guild, Ejezie Emeka Rollas, MON, use (sic) this opportunity to announce the lifting of the suspension placed on Adanma Luke, producer of the movie ‘Another Side of Life,’ where star actor Junior Pope and four other crew members lost their lives in Anam river,” the statement reads.

The announcement has elicited mixed reactions from industry professionals and the public. Some social media users criticized the decision as premature, questioning the effectiveness of the four-month suspension.

In response to the lifted ban, Movie producer Stanley Ontop called for Rollas’ resignation highlighting the controversy surrounding the guild’s decision.

Although the AGN did not provide specific details on any new safety protocols or measures implemented in the wake of the April tragedy, the lifted suspension allows Luke to resume filmmaking activities in Nigeria.

Junior Pope, known for his roles in numerous Nollywood productions, was 47 at the time of his death. The accident raised questions about safety standards in Nigeria’s film industry, particularly for on-location shoots in potentially hazardous environments.