Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has denied reports claiming he owes FirstBank ₦5 billion, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
Reacting in a video shared on his Instagram page on Friday, Afolayan dismissed the claim, insisting there is no loan dispute or court case involving him and the bank.
He said, “Good day, everyone. I try not to, like, do this, but I think for whatever it’s worth, and also for those who are, you know, well-wishers and friends, family, who are really worried about the publication and this nonsense they are spreading around, saying we’re owing 5 billion. I really wish, please, if I see a bank that will give me 5 million, I definitely will take it because I will use it for the betterment of the country. But the honest truth is there’s nothing of such.
“One, Anikulapo, even from the film, you know, was a co-production between Golden Effects and Netflix, and it was a clear, straightforward deal, and no money is owed, no money is owed to anyone.
“And I don’t know, there’s so much, I don’t know, maybe it’s because we’re going through so much in Nigeria, so they are always looking for issues where there isn’t.
“So without prolonging the matter, there’s no litigation. We are good friends of the bank, we’ve done collaborations in the past, and we’re still doing stuff, but we don’t have any issue of any sort. And the people behind this, wọn má gburo. So, yeah, that’s all I will say. But thanks to everyone who’s been sharing the links and the messages. We’re not owing anybody 5 billion.”
In the caption accompanying the video, the filmmaker reiterated that neither he nor his company owes FirstBank or any other bank ₦5 billion.
He wrote, “We are not owing Firstbank or any bank at all N5 billion. Thank you to everybody who reached out and to everyone in their comment sections defending our reputation.
“Thank you 🙏🏾”
Afolayan’s response follows a blog report alleging that he secured a ₦5 billion loan from FirstBank in 2022 to fund the production of Anikulapo and repaid only half of it after Netflix acquired the project. The filmmaker, however, maintained that the report is entirely false and that no such debt exists.
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