…withdraw your suspension or face legal action — Halima
Nigerian actress Halima Abubakar has entered into a fierce dispute with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) following her recent indefinite suspension.
Recently returning to public life after a serious health challenge, Abubakar has found herself in conflict with AGN, which announced her suspension after what it described as a thorough investigation into alleged misconduct.
According to a statement released by AGN on Friday, the decision was made after a secret investigation panel, which was formed in 2022, found Abubakar guilty of allegedly spreading unverified rumors regarding extramarital affairs between actors and prominent Nigerians.
The panel’s findings asserted that Abubakar was responsible for slanderous leaks to bloggers, which negatively affected the reputations of numerous individuals in the industry.
AGN stated:“Following the thorough investigative report by the special Secret Investigation Panel, it was confirmed that Miss Halima Abubakar was behind all the slandering information.”
AGN’s National President, Emeka Rollas, further affirmed the Guild’s position, making it clear that Abubakar’s suspension will remain in effect.
In response, Halima Abubakar has pushed back strongly, filing a defamation lawsuit demanding N30 billion in damages and accusing AGN of blackmail and character defamation.
Represented by P.D. Pius & Associates, her legal team argued in a letter dated October 20, 2024, that AGN’s actions were deliberately timed to exploit her health recovery and damage her public image.
“Our client has been battling health issues for years,” the letter stated, “and despite maintaining a professional relationship, you chose this delicate moment during her recovery to spread a negative and false narrative.”
The letter also accused AGN’s president of cultivating a “false narrative” that aims to “denigrate her, cast aspersions on her, and stir up social opprobrium.”
Her solicitors demanded the retraction of the publication and a public apology on Emeka Rollas’ Instagram page, with a seven-day ultimatum to avoid further legal action.
Abubakar’s legal team underscored the “emotional and psychological distress” she claimed to have endured as a result of AGN’s actions, which they argue have undermined her standing with fans and industry colleagues.
She publicly apologized to a well-known cleric she had previously accused of wrongdoing after AGN suspended her, a retraction some have seen as strategically timed with her ongoing dispute with AGN.
Abubakar’s career has seen its share of publicized conflicts—a pattern that has drawn both admiration and criticism.
Her ongoing friction with AGN is the latest in a series of disputes involving high-profile individuals, sparking debate over whether these instances reflect publicity efforts or deeper grievances within the industry.
AGN’s suspension statement was firm, noting that Abubakar is barred from all Guild activities and industry work during the suspension period.
They warned that any violation of the terms could lead to additional disciplinary measures.
“She will face the National Disciplinary Committee to determine her full punishment,” AGN noted, suggesting that further action may follow.
With legal proceedings now on the horizon, this standoff is likely to draw further attention to Abubakar’s relationship with AGN.
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