IBADAN — The battle for the soul of the Yoruba cinematic classic, Ogbori Elemosho, has taken a dramatic turn as filmmaker Benedict Ayoola, popularly known as Benoben, finally addressed the ₦7.5 million controversy involving veteran actor Chief Olalere Paimo (Eda Onile Ola). Appearing on an online platform Agbeletu TV, Benoben cleared the air on the brewing legal storm that has divided fans of the 1987 masterpiece. The filmmaker sparked a frenzy when he revealed that the ₦7.5 million recently returned by Chief Paimo was never meant to be a “buyout” of the veteran’s rights. While Paimo described the cash as a “Greek gift” intended to sideline him, Benoben insisted the money was a “token of respect” for the legend’s pioneering work. ”The cash was intended as a gift and a sign of respect for the legend’s work,” Benoben told viewers, maintaining that he had no intention of disrespecting the veteran’s legacy. At the heart of the clash is a fundamental disagreement over who “owns” the story of Soun Ogunlola, the legendary hunter who founded Ogbomoso. While Chief Paimo claims intellectual property over the narrative he popularized decades ago, Benoben argued that the story is an ancestral heritage belonging to the community and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye. He clarified that the new project is a fresh historical production sanctioned by the palace, not a direct remake of Paimo’s 1987 script. As Chief Paimo continues to seek government intervention to protect his rights, the industry is watching closely to see how this landmark debate on cultural heritage versus intellectual property unfolds. Watch the full interview on Agbeletu tv on YouTube Post navigation Rasheed Shanko’s Estranged Wife Regains Custody of Children After Tragic Loss Asake Reveals the Secret Words That Took Him from the Trenches to the Top of the Charts
