When Celestine (Zubby Michael), also known as Sting, goes missing during a crossfire between soldiers and militants, his brother Dagogo (Gideon Okeke) mourns his supposed loss for two years. That is until Reverend (Bimbo Manuel) informs him that Sting has been spotted alive in the Niger Delta, playing football with some children. Determined to find his brother, Dagogo embarks on a journey that pits him against forces, both physical and supernatural, far greater than himself. The five-episode Netflix crime thriller series, The Covenant, created and produced by Vincent Okonkwo and directed by the late Dimeji Ajibola (also known for the crime thriller series Shanty Town), explores themes of crime and survival amid the collision of tangible and mystical powers. The series also stars Sola Sobowale, Bimbo Manuel, Segun Arinze, Uzee Usman, Ejiro Onijaife, Ivie Okujaye, and Tope Olowoniyan, among others.
From its opening scenes, The Covenant immediately immerses viewers in chaos: gunfire, explosions, and general mayhem dominate the battlefield. The film shows immense promise, but as the series progresses, the tangled subplots, common in many Nollywood productions, make the narrative increasingly difficult to follow. While contemporary action thrillers naturally involve stunts, physical confrontations, and gunfights, The Covenant frames this action within the context of magic and African spirituality. The series engages the supernatural in a manner reminiscent of Shona Ferguson’s Kings of Jo’burg and Dimeji Ajibola’s Shanty Town, highlighting its connection to power, authority, and the criminal underworld.
This thematic interplay is established in the first episode when a mysterious woman appears on the battlefield. Later, Stella (Sola Sobowale) admits to invoking this supernatural figure to protect her children. This guardian-like presence frequently appears in Dagogo’s dreams, offering protection to Celestine and ensuring his survival through countless ordeals.
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The series introduces multiple subplots, including Stella’s history with the Brotherhood cult, which features members such as the militant Naomi (Ivie Okujaye) and her father, Priest Chief Kalu (Segun Arinze). Reverend Tonye (Bimbo Manuel) initially appears as Dagogo’s ally in the search for Celestine, only to be revealed as a secret adversary, conspiring with the deadly militant leader Scourge (Uzee Usman) and Dagogo’s friend Officer Patrick (Stanley Igboanugo), driven by unchecked ambition. These subplots, while designed to maintain suspense, are densely packed, at times overwhelming the viewer.
The Reverend’s ultimate aim is to claim a magical spear in Stella’s custody, an artifact controlled by the Brotherhood, which would grant him immense power for immortality. The series delivers an unexpected twist when the Reverend and Officer Patrick are revealed to be collaborating against Dagogo, though it fails to justify their alliance clearly. Questions remain: What does Officer Patrick stand to gain from aiding the Reverend? Why does Scourge join this partnership? The series leaves these motivations largely unexplored, creating gaps in narrative coherence.
Some of the character motivations are simply not convincing. Take Stella, for example. Why is she so desperate to protect her two sons, Celestine and Dagogo? The series never really explains this. Same with Belema. She goes after the spear, but deep down, what she wants is revenge for her father’s death. That connection is never properly drawn.
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Gideon Okeke is easily one of the strongest parts of The Covenant. His Dagogo feels intense and real. His voice is rough, defiant, always on edge, like someone shaped by years of combat. But what really sells the performance are the quiet moments — the pauses, the stillness, the way he carries his body. It’s hard not to think of his role in Tokunbo (2024), directed by Ramsey Nouah. Sola Sobowale also delivers. This is a very different side of her. Instead of the loud, commanding presence she’s known for in Nollywood, especially in King of Boys, she plays Stella with restraint. She’s subdued, remorseful, and clearly trying to fix old mistakes and earn back her children’s trust.
Once you move past these performances, though, the cracks begin to show. Many of the characters barely register. Zubby Michael’s Sting never really grows beyond the surface, and Havoc (Ejiro Onijaife), who is meant to be terrifying, doesn’t feel threatening at all.
Even the idea driving the series feels undercooked. The Covenant wants to present a criminal underworld filled with shifting loyalties and hidden power plays, but it doesn’t do the work. There’s little backstory, especially around the Brotherhood cult. Characters like Scourge, Naomi, Commander Stealth, and Havoc are there, but they’re not developed enough for us to understand what pushes them. In the end, the series feels caught between what it wants to be and what it actually becomes – strong performances carrying a story that never fully comes together.