Renowned Nigerian filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has dismissed reports circulating online that he is facing legal action over an alleged N5 billion loan from First Bank.
The rumours, which originated from a blog post, claimed that Afolayan borrowed the sum in 2022 to finance his critically acclaimed epic, Anikulapo. According to the post, the director had only repaid half of the loan following Netflix’s acquisition of the film, and was allegedly summoned to court after failing to meet repayment obligations.
The report further alleged that First Bank had obtained a court order against Afolayan, citing an unnamed associate who claimed the filmmaker had become “unreachable” since the partial repayment.
“Kunle Afolayan has allegedly received a court summons from First Bank for failing to repay a 5 billion naira loan he borrowed to fund his Anikulapo movie in 2022. He signed an agreement to pay back the loan in less than three years,” the post read.
However, in a brief statement to TheCable Lifestyle on Friday, Afolayan categorically denied the claims, describing them as baseless.
“It’s fake news,” he said, without offering further details.
The filmmaker, known for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry and for producing globally recognized works, has not issued any additional clarification regarding the alleged loan or legal proceedings.
The rumour has sparked conversations across social media, with fans and industry stakeholders awaiting further clarification from either Afolayan or First Bank.
