Nigerian actress and Instagram influencer, Abike Shugga, has shared her account of her alleged fallout with filmmaker Toyin Abraham, revisiting the controversy that trended in 2023 over claims of ingratitude and professional disagreement.
Abike, known for her roles in Jenifa’s Diary, Agoalago, and Malika, said her journey into the entertainment industry began after her time as a TV presenter and an audition at Scene One Productions, where she first met Funke Akindele through JJC Skillz.
She explained that during the COVID-19 period, she ventured into fashion design and posted about buying her first sewing machine online, a post that went viral and reportedly caught Toyin Abraham’s attention. According to her, Toyin reached out, offered support, and later helped create opportunities for her in the film industry.
Abike said she went on to feature in Agoalago and Jenifa’s Diary, adding that she was also involved in content creation and promotional work, for which she claimed she received small payments. She further stated that she earned ₦50,000 for a two-week shoot on Agoalago and was paid varying amounts for online promotional content.
She alleged that tensions began when she accepted promotional work related to Funke Akindele’s projects while still working closely with Toyin Abraham. Abike claimed this led to dissatisfaction from Toyin, including calls, voice notes, and instructions to take down certain posts, which she said created friction in their relationship
I was paid ₦50K but my scenes were removed” – Abike Shugaa shares disappointing experience with Toyin Abraham 🤷♀️🏃🏿♂️➡️ pic.twitter.com/z48SDkkbSw
— onlineblog_ng (@Onlineblog_Ng) April 17, 2026
She also alleged that the situation affected her career opportunities, claiming she lost a role after a producer reportedly said she should not be cast due to external influence. Abike maintained that she was already building her career before gaining public attention.
In response to earlier allegations, Toyin Abraham has stated that she considers Abike like a daughter and has chosen not to engage in a public dispute. She also denied claims suggesting unusually high payments for upcoming actors.
Abike, however, insisted that she was not “discovered from nowhere,” but was already developing her craft before her rise to prominence.
