First assistant director Mene Aboyowa has recounted a troubling incident involving veteran actor Femi Branch, who allegedly struck him on set during a recent film shoot.
In an exclusive conversation with The Nollywood Reporter, Aboyowa detailed the events that unfolded on the eighth day of production, prompting a temporary shutdown of filming and strong reactions across Nigeria’s film industry.
According to Aboyowa, tensions escalated during preparations for the day’s final scene between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. While he and the director of photography were inside setting up the interior frame, Aboyowa attempted to exit the building to confirm exterior angles—only to discover that filming had already started without them.
“I knocked to step outside and do my job,” Aboyowa told The Nollywood Reporter. “Next thing I heard was Femi Branch shouting that they were already filming. I asked why they would start rolling without the DOP and first AD present. His response was to insult me, saying something like ‘my head is not correct.’ When I asked why he’d say that, he flared up, walked inside shouting at me. I stood my ground and told him he couldn’t intimidate me, and that’s when he hit me.”
The incident sparked immediate unrest among the crew. On the final shoot day at Lekki Conservation Centre, crew members refused to resume filming unless Branch apologized. When the actor initially attempted to leave, crew members locked the gate and insisted filming would not continue without resolution.
“Production was under pressure to wrap,” Aboyowa explained. “The executive producer kept pleading, and eventually, Femi was made to apologize to the crew and to me directly before we could continue.”
The altercation drew wider condemnation after the Nigerian Film Crew Community (NFCC) released a statement via Instagram denouncing Branch’s behaviour.
“This behaviour violates not only professional boundaries but human decency,” the NFCC wrote. “We commend the production crew for standing firmly against violence and upholding integrity and respect on set.”
The organization stressed that the incident reflects broader issues in Nollywood. “Respect for crew is non-negotiable. We are not just hands, we are the backbone of this industry. This is not just about one incident, it is about ending a toxic pattern.”
While no official comment has yet been made by Branch, the incident has sparked renewed debate on on-set conduct, hierarchy, and the treatment of crew members within the Nigerian film ecosystem.