A wave of frustration is sweeping through Nollywood’s top filmmakers as Toyin Abraham, Niyi Akinmolayan, and Ini Edo publicly called out cinemas for sabotaging their movies.
On December 26, actress-director Toyin Abraham took to Instagram Live to accuse certain cinemas of manipulating ticket sales for her directorial debut, Oversabi Aunty.
Abraham alleged that some venues falsely claim shows are “sold out” despite available seats, while others engage in ticket swapping— redirecting fans to other films, possibly due to favoritism.
Oversabi Aunty
She expressed heartbreak over not seeing expected financial returns despite heavy personal investment, promotion, and the film’s strong early performance, which reportedly neared N100 million in its opening weekend.
Clips from the live session quickly went viral on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), with fans and eyewitnesses sharing similar experiences. One user recounted being given tickets for another movie after being told Oversabi Aunty was sold out.
Niyi AkinmolayanNiyi Akinmolayan shares frustration over movie ticket manipulationNiyi Akinmolayan shares frustration over movie ticket manipulation
Filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan, whose action-packed Colours of Fire (starring Osas Ighodaro, Uzor Arukwe, Mercy Aigbe, and others) hit cinemas around Christmas, also publicly slammed exhibitors for screening issues affecting his film.
These developments come as December 2025 delivers a stacked lineup of major Nollywood titles, intensifying competition for screens and audiences. Many supporters urge moviegoers to verify showtimes directly and support the films in theaters amid the allegations.
The incidents revive long-standing discussions about favoritism, potential tipping of cinema staff, and systemic challenges in Nigeria’s cinema ecosystem.
