Renowned Nigerian filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan has raised alarm over what he described as unethical and fraudulent practices by some cinemas showing his latest movie, Colours of Fire.
The director took to his Instagram Story to call out cinemas allegedly selling tickets to moviegoers but refusing to screen the film after payment had been made.
In a strongly worded post, Akinmolayan warned that he would publicly expose the cinemas involved if the situation was not resolved immediately.
“If by end of day, you don’t fix up, I am going to name all the cinemas that have Colours Of Fire on their website, collected money from people and are refusing to show them the film,” he wrote.
The filmmaker, who is known for blockbuster hits such as The Wedding Party 2, The Set Up, and Elevator Baby, did not stop there. He revealed that he already had evidence against several cinemas and threatened to release details of both the businesses and their managers.
“I already have three and you know yourselves! If you don’t fix up today, I will post your cinemas and the names of your managers!” he added.
The post quickly sparked reactions online, with fans and industry watchers expressing concern over transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s cinema business.
One social media user, identified as @Adam.songbird, reacted sharply, linking the issue to a broader culture of corruption.
“Later we go dey blame leaders for corruption when even ourselves cannot be faithful with little things,” the fan wrote.
As of press time, none of the cinemas mentioned have issued an official response, while Colours of Fire continues to generate conversation, not just for its storyline, but now for the controversy surrounding its cinema screenings.