TAMPAN, Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria has effective immediately suspended Nollywood actors, Nkechi Blessing Sunday and Kehinde Adams, popularly known as Lege over their recent back and forth on social media.
In the last few weeks, the duo has been on loggerheads over the arrest of their colleague, Baba Ijesha who allegedly sexually molested a minor.
As a result, the Tampan Guild of Directors (TGD), which is a sector of TAMPAN issued a statement to all film directors under its umbrella to immediately desist from working with both actors until when their suspension is lifted.
The statement which was signed by Damola Olatunji and posted on the official page of the association, read in part, “The attention of the National Body of TAMPAN (Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria) has been drawn to the unruly acts, exchange of detrimental verbal utterances, and other acts that are causing disrespect to the image of the association and our noble profession in general.
“All Guilds under TAMPAN have been directed to henceforth desist from having professional dealings with Sunday Nkechi Blessing and Mr Adams Kehinde (Lege) until further notice. In accordance with the directive from our parent body, Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria, concerning the show of shame currently ongoing between the two practitioners, Sunday Nkechi Blessing and Mr Adams Kehinde on social media, creating a bad image for our noble profession, punitive order becomes imperative to redeem our battered image.”
It stressed a warning to all film directors who go contrary to the directive to risk being punished by the law, stating, “In light of the above, it has been decreed that no director from this guild (TAMPAN Guild of Directors) should engage the services of the two actors in whatever guise. To go contrary to this directive is tantamount to running afoul of the law of the parent body, subject to further punitive measures against the lawbreaker! Hope this directive will be wholesomely enforced to the letter.”
By Mary Abazuo