The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has refuted rumours that police in Umuahia, Abia State, arrested and detained Ejezie Emeka Rollas, the organization’s national president.
Cornel Udofia, the guild’s spokesperson, said in a statement that the accusations are “a figment of imagination” meant to discredit the Nigeria Police Force.
According to Udofia, the incident began when a group of “disgruntled elements” allegedly took over the Abia AGN chapter and held an unlawful election without the approval of the national organisation.
He claimed that as a result, temporary chairman were appointed, the most recent of whom was Mr. Emmanuel Ehumadu, popularly known as Labista.
He said that during Labista’s first meeting on January 9, 2025, Rollas attended to encourage participation, adding that things took a turn when someone in the crowd began issuing threats and causing chaos.
He noted that Rollas sent a distress call to the police, who intervened and invited the individuals involved for questioning.
The AGN has reiterated that Rollas was never arrested or detained, and the reports were fabricated to discredit the Nigeria Police Force.
The statement reads:
“Actors Guild of Nigeria debunks arrest of national president…
“Our attention has been drawn to news making the rounds in local Abia blogs claiming that the AGNNational President Dr Ejezie Emeka Rollas MON was arrested and detained by the police in Umuahia., Abia State.
“Ordinarily these blogs do not deserve this refutal but for the benefit of teeming supporters of our National President who has been doing a great job and for the records.
“For those of you who have followed the AGN story in Abia it would be recalled that since 2024 a set of disgruntled elements led by one David Amalaha hijacked the Abia AGN by conducting an illegal and kangaroo election without the consent of the National body as enshrined in the AGN constitution. As a result, the Guild in Abia has been led by different Interim governments pending when the matter in court would have been over.
“Recently Mr Emmanuel Ehumadu aka Labista was appointed as the new Interim Chairman of the Abia State Chapter. January 9th 2025 was his first meeting and luckily the National President was around in the State due to the death of his mother-In-Law so he attended the meeting to encourage participation of all members.
“After his speech where he reeled out the national programs for 2025 somebody among the crowd raised up his hands to speak and he was given audience only for him to begin to rain abuses to the national body, issuing threats and causing chaos. At that point the national president sent a distress call to the AlG zone 9 who intervened and the boys were invited to the police for questioning.
“The meeting continued. At the end of the meeting the National President went to the zone 9 Umuahia and made an official entry of threat to life.
The National President was never arrested and detained as claimed in the report.
“It is a figment of imagination of the writer calculated to embarrass and disrespect the Nigeria Police Force. Signed, Cornel Udofia, Presidential Spokesman”.
