''Okafor's Law'' is a 2016 Nigerian romantic comedy drama film written, directed and produced by
Omoni Oboli
Omoni Oboli (born 22 April 1978) is a Nigerian actress, scriptwriter, film director, producer and digital filmmaker. She studied at the New York Film Academy and has written several screenplays, including The Figurine (2009), '' Anchor Baby'' ...
. The film stars
Blossom Chukwujekwu
Blossom Chukwujekwu is a Nigerian actor, who made his professional acting debut in 2009. In 2015, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Early life and education
Born Chukwudi Echezona Chukwujekwu on ...
,
Omoni Oboli
Omoni Oboli (born 22 April 1978) is a Nigerian actress, scriptwriter, film director, producer and digital filmmaker. She studied at the New York Film Academy and has written several screenplays, including The Figurine (2009), '' Anchor Baby'' ...
,
Toyin Aimakhu
Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi (born Olutoyin Aimakhu; 5 September 1982) is a Nigerian actress and filmmaker.
Early life
Abraham was born in Auchi, a town in Edo State in southern Nigeria. But spent her early life in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State ...
,
Gabriel Afolayan
Gabriel Afolayan, (born 1 March 1985) also known by his musical stage name G-Fresh, is a Nigerian actor and singer.
Education
He studied theatre arts at the University of Ibadan.
Career
He is part of the renowned Afolayan entertainment fa ...
,
Ufuoma McDermott
Ufuoma Stacey McDermott ( ; born 23 April 1981) is a Nigerian film-maker, actress and former model.
Early life
Ejenobor was born in Benin City to Nigerian parents of Urhobo descent who hails from Delta State in Nigeria. She moved a lot - f ...
,
Richard Mofe Damijo
Richard Eyimofe Evans Mofe-Damijo (born 6 July 1961), popularly known as RMD, is a Nigerian actor, writer, producer, lawyer, and former journalist. He was also a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State in 2009. In 2005, he wo ...
, Tina Mba,
Kemi Lala Akindoju
Kemi "Lala" Akindoju is a Nigerian actress. She won an Africa Magic trailbrailzer award for her role in the film adaptation of ''Dazzling Mirage''.
Personal life
Akindoju was born on 8 March 1987 in a family of 4 children. She's a native of O ...
and
Ken Erics
Ekenedilichukwu Ugochukwu Eric Nwenweh, (born 28 February 1985) professionally known as Ken Erics Ugo or simply Ken Erics is a Nigerian film and television actor, writer, producer and occasional musician. He is popularly known for his role as ...
.
Plot
The film goes against the view that straight men and women can't just be friends. It brings this true by telling the story of Chucks (
Blossom Chukwujekwu
Blossom Chukwujekwu is a Nigerian actor, who made his professional acting debut in 2009. In 2015, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Early life and education
Born Chukwudi Echezona Chukwujekwu on ...
) nicknamed by his friends as the Terminator, an ardent player with ladies, whose quest to proving this law to his friends brings him three woman he must re-seduce: Ify (
Ufuoma McDermott
Ufuoma Stacey McDermott ( ; born 23 April 1981) is a Nigerian film-maker, actress and former model.
Early life
Ejenobor was born in Benin City to Nigerian parents of Urhobo descent who hails from Delta State in Nigeria. She moved a lot - f ...
), Tomi (
Toyin Aimakhu
Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi (born Olutoyin Aimakhu; 5 September 1982) is a Nigerian actress and filmmaker.
Early life
Abraham was born in Auchi, a town in Edo State in southern Nigeria. But spent her early life in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State ...
) and Ejiro (
Omoni Oboli
Omoni Oboli (born 22 April 1978) is a Nigerian actress, scriptwriter, film director, producer and digital filmmaker. She studied at the New York Film Academy and has written several screenplays, including The Figurine (2009), '' Anchor Baby'' ...
), whose lives have drastically changed. And this must be done within 21 days. This challenge of their various new status makes his quest to win the bet more and more insurmountable as he tries to prove the immortality of the long age law: Okafor's Law.
Cast
*
Blossom Chukwujekwu
Blossom Chukwujekwu is a Nigerian actor, who made his professional acting debut in 2009. In 2015, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Early life and education
Born Chukwudi Echezona Chukwujekwu on ...
as Chuks Okafor (a.k.a. Terminator)
*
Toyin Aimakhu
Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi (born Olutoyin Aimakhu; 5 September 1982) is a Nigerian actress and filmmaker.
Early life
Abraham was born in Auchi, a town in Edo State in southern Nigeria. But spent her early life in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State ...
as Tomi Tijani
*
Omoni Oboli
Omoni Oboli (born 22 April 1978) is a Nigerian actress, scriptwriter, film director, producer and digital filmmaker. She studied at the New York Film Academy and has written several screenplays, including The Figurine (2009), '' Anchor Baby'' ...
as Ejiro
*
Gabriel Afolayan
Gabriel Afolayan, (born 1 March 1985) also known by his musical stage name G-Fresh, is a Nigerian actor and singer.
Education
He studied theatre arts at the University of Ibadan.
Career
He is part of the renowned Afolayan entertainment fa ...
as Chuks (a.k.a. Baptist)
*
Ken Erics
Ekenedilichukwu Ugochukwu Eric Nwenweh, (born 28 February 1985) professionally known as Ken Erics Ugo or simply Ken Erics is a Nigerian film and television actor, writer, producer and occasional musician. He is popularly known for his role as ...
as Chuks (a.k.a. Fox)
*
Ufuoma McDermott
Ufuoma Stacey McDermott ( ; born 23 April 1981) is a Nigerian film-maker, actress and former model.
Early life
Ejenobor was born in Benin City to Nigerian parents of Urhobo descent who hails from Delta State in Nigeria. She moved a lot - f ...
as Ify Omene
*
Richard Mofe Damijo
Richard Eyimofe Evans Mofe-Damijo (born 6 July 1961), popularly known as RMD, is a Nigerian actor, writer, producer, lawyer, and former journalist. He was also a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State in 2009. In 2005, he wo ...
as Mr. Onome
* Tina Mba as Mom
*
Kemi Lala Akindoju
Kemi "Lala" Akindoju is a Nigerian actress. She won an Africa Magic trailbrailzer award for her role in the film adaptation of ''Dazzling Mirage''.
Personal life
Akindoju was born on 8 March 1987 in a family of 4 children. She's a native of O ...
as Onome
* Mary Lazarus as Kamsi
*
Halima Abubakar
Halima Abubakar (born 12 June 1985) is a Nigerian actress. In 2011, she won the Afro Hollywood Best Actress award.
Personal life
Abubakar was born in Kano but is a descent of Kogi. She attended Ideal primary school in Kano then studied Sociology ...
as Cassandra
*
Yvonne Jegede as Toyin
Production
The film was shot at locations in
Ikorodu
Ikorodu is a large city in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is located to the north-east of Lagos, along the Lagos Lagoon and shares boundary with Ogun State. With a population of over 1million inhabitant, Ikorodu is currently the 12 largest city in Nig ...
,
Lagos State
Lagos State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 states, it is both the most populous and smallest in area. Bounded to the south by the Bight of Benin and to the west by the international border with Ben ...
.
Release
The film was first released on 12 September 2016 at
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a perman ...
, Canada. It was scheduled to be screened on 10 November 2016 at the
Stockholm International Film Festival, Sweden and later in April 2017, Nigeria.
Controversy
Upon the film's release at the 2016
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a perman ...
, it was accused of
Intellectual property theft by
Jude Idada
Jude Idada is a Nigerian screenwriter, actor, poet, playwright and producer best known for writing the feature film, ''The Tenant''. He has also produced and written several other short films and books.
Early life and education
Idada, a descent o ...
, a writer, who claimed to be the owner of the film's story; he also claimed to have written part of the script; all without appropriate credit or remuneration. On 24 March 2017, during the premiere of the film, a
court injunction
An injunction is a legal and equitable remedy in the form of a special court order that compels a party to do or refrain from specific acts. ("The court of appeals ... has exclusive jurisdiction to enjoin, set aside, suspend (in whole or in par ...
was delivered, which prevented the film from being screened at the event, and also from any future screenings. However, the injunction was lifted in court on 30 March 2017, due to the lack of enough evidence to justify a suspension of the film's release. The film was allowed to open in theatres on 31 March, as originally scheduled, pending the conclusion of the
court proceedings. Furthermore, it is being suggested that part of the
box office earnings for ''Okafor's Law'' might be up for
damages
At common law, damages are a remedy in the form of a monetary award to be paid to a claimant as compensation for loss or injury. To warrant the award, the claimant must show that a breach of duty has caused foreseeable loss. To be recognised at ...
, if the court should rule in favour of Idada.
References
External links
* {{IMDb title, 5955112
English-language Nigerian films
2016 films
Films set in Lagos
2010s English-language films
Nigerian romantic comedy films
Nigerian romantic comedy-drama films