Actress and filmmaker Toyin Abraham has accused some cinemas of deliberately undermining the box office performance of her new film, Oversabi Aunty. Toyin Abraham made the allegations during an Instagram Live session, claiming that cinema staff engaged in unethical practices that affected ticket sales.
Claims Of Sold-Out Misrepresentation And Poor Scheduling
Abraham alleged that cinema staff falsely declared her film “sold out” at ticket counters and redirected customers to other movies. She also claimed that cinemas assigned Oversabi Aunty unfavourable screening times, sometimes limiting it to a single low-traffic slot per day. “I’m not making money,” she said during the broadcast, adding that she had evidence to support her claims.
Detty December Pressure On Nollywood Releases
The accusations come during Nigeria’s peak cinema period, popularly known as Detty December, when multiple high-profile Nollywood releases compete for limited screen space. According to Abraham, the intense competition has exposed practices that disadvantage certain productions and deprive filmmakers of expected revenue.
Other industry figures have voiced similar concerns. Actress Ini Edo, a first-time producer, shared videos from moviegoers who reported difficulties purchasing tickets for her film, describing the experience as exhausting despite her investment. Filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan also warned that he may publicly identify cinemas allegedly sabotaging his film Colours of Fire if the situation persists.
Actor Femi Branch further alleged that some cinema staff openly promote specific films by wearing branded merchandise, raising questions about neutrality at ticket points.
No cinema chain has been officially named, and cinema operators are yet to respond publicly.
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