Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU), Amazon, and producers of ‘Gangs of Lagos’ have resolved to settle amicably, the dispute between them over controversial portrayal of Eyo Masquerade in the film.
Gatekeepers News reports that a Lagos high court approved the settlement terms between the parties.
The movie, directed by Jade Osiberu and produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju, was released on Amazon’s Prime Video on April 7, 2023.
The film was widely criticised over its defamatory depiction of Isale Eko as a den of criminals and Eyo Masquerade as a gang of murderers.
Isale Eko Descendants’ Union sued the movie producers and Amazon, seeking N10 billion in damages.
Attorney general of Lagos and Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board was listed as first and second respondents in the lawsuit.
The third to 12th respondents included Osiberu, Akindoju, Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Olumide Soyombo, Bankole W, Adesua Etomi, Kola Aina, Greoh Limited, and Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited.
Idowu Alakija, the presiding judge in her ruling, disclosed that the parties involved agreed to “resolve all disputes concerning the film amicably.”
She ruled that the filmmakers and Amazon are required to issue letters of apology acknowledging that ‘Gangs of Lagos’ “erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage” of Eyo Masquerade and the Isale Eko people.
IDU and its affiliated chieftaincy families agreed to withdraw all claims and legal actions against the filmmakers and Amazon and pledged not to pursue further lawsuits or complaints related to the film.
Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, Adeniji Kazeem, chairman of Isale-Eko descendants, said the community “feels vindicated by this judgement.”
Kazeem urged the national and state film censors to be more vigilant in scrutiny of films that are licensed for viewing in the country.
He said, “Furthermore, we assert that there are strong imperatives for Lagos state to revisit its constitutional rights to properly oversee the production and censorship of films utilizing its cultural material and resources.”
