PUNCH
On the surface fashion runways and show business appear to be every parent’s dream – children strutting in designer outfits on the runway, and young adults gracing exotic photo shoots and blockbuster films. However, behind the scenes, some parents are making shocking allegations against a Lagos-based fashion and talent hunt show promoter, writes VICTOR AYENI
Sitting on a blue plastic chair, with her hands folded tightly across her chest, the 30-year-old shook her feet nervously as she briefly pressed her mobile phone.
She seemed distant and lost in thoughts; a glint of sadness could be seen in her eyes as she looked across the room.
Clad in a long, flowing brown outfit, the mother of one, who preferred to be called Anike, fought back tears as she recounted to our correspondent her painful experience which had altered her life in the past three months.
An up-and-coming actor, Anike’s heart had leapt for joy when she found an advert flyer by a Lagos-based talent hunt agency, on Instagram. The ad called for applicants who were eager to become the next big movie stars.
Adorned with a photo of a popular Nollywood star, the flyer provided instructions for online registration, which would qualify applicants for a scheduled oral interview as aspiring actors, models, or TV hosts.
This mouth-watering offer not only sounded legitimate to Anike but also had the allure of elevating her career. However, she soon discovered it was too good to be true.
“After registering online, I received an email asking me to come to Tiamiyu Street at VI for an interview,” Anike told Sunday PUNCH.
“At the venue, I met with other applicants who were also present for the interview. A lady there asked me to pay N10,000 for a form and I did. After paying, I was told that I needed to register again and if I qualified, I would appear on many TV projects, African Magic, and photo shoots – all those enticing things.
“Then, I was introduced to two types of packages. There is N85,000 for a standard package and N250,000 for a premium package. I went for the N85,000 package, but I told them I didn’t have the money with me, so they said I could pay N20,000 now and balance up within 15 days.”
On the third day, Anike allegedly received a message which invited her to a sports camp situated at the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation housing estate in Ogba.
One of the staff members of the agency, identified as Ada, took the intending actors and models, numbering about 15, to another house within the estate. It was there Anike said she first met the founder of the talent hunt agency, identified simply as Al-Ameen.
Recounting what allegedly happened there, Anike said, “We had a rehearsal and were given some film scripts to read. Later that evening, Al-Ameen told one of the ladies working with him, Mariam, to call each of us into his room for further rehearsals. But I was not included.
“When it was my turn, Al-Ameen asked the other girls to go to bed and called me into the room. There was a bed in the room but it wasn’t big. He asked if I was romantic.
“I was surprised because I have been an actor for four years and I had my fourth production in March this year. I can act in any role and switch from one character to another.
“He asked about my age and marital role and I answered him. He then stood up and moved the table in the room against the door to prevent it from being opened. He asked me to stand up and said, ‘Now, I want to see if you are romantic.’”
The 36-year-old show promoter allegedly switched on a blue light bulb in the room and ordered Anike to use him as her actor and be romantic towards him.
“I was speaking romantic words to him, but he interrupted me, saying I was not saying anything new, and before I could say anything else, he pushed me to the bed, used one of his hands to cover my mouth, and used his other hand to roll up my gown and he forced himself into me.
“As I was struggling with him, one of the other girls there, Lucy (not real name) knocked on the door and said she forgot her phone charger when she came to the room earlier. Babatunde went out of the room to talk to her and by then, I had stood up from the bed.
“When he returned to the room, he began to say denigrating things to me. I was traumatised. I shut myself in a toilet beside the room and cleaned myself. I couldn’t sleep that night, I kept thinking of my husband and feeling ashamed,” Anike said, as she broke down in tears.
Like moth to flame
