Nollywood actress, Adunni Ade, has finally spoken up after
being accused of owing the late actor,
Murphy Afolabi, a sum of N250,000. The
accusation arose during the burial committee’s eighth-day fidau prayer held in
honor of Murphy on Monday. One of the committee members publicly called out
Adunni Ade in Yoruba, urging her to repay the money so that it could be given
to Murphy’s children.
However, Adunni Ade took to her official social media handle
the following day to release a statement addressing the allegations. In her
statement, she provided a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the
money and explained why she was unable to fulfill the proposed project due to a
personal tragedy.
According to Adunni, Murphy Afolabi had approached her in
July 2021, requesting her services for a movie production. He explained that it
was a self-funded project, and he couldn’t afford her professional fee but
needed her moral support. Adunni inquired about the number of scenes and the
duration she would be required on set, to which Murphy replied that she would
have ten scenes and spend one day. As compensation, he offered to “fuel
her car,” and on July 2, 2021, he made a payment of N150,000.
Tragically, on July 11, 2021, shortly before the production
was set to begin, Adunni lost her younger brother. She contacted Murphy a few
days later to inform him about the situation and requested his bank account
details to send him a refund, as she had to travel to the United States for her
brother’s funeral. However, Murphy suggested that she hold onto the money while
he considered whether to reschedule the shoot or arrange another project with
her.
On October 8, 2021, Murphy Afolabi reached out to Adunni
again, expressing his desire to start a new project soon and needing her for
four days in a leading role. However, he offered the same amount of N150,000,
which he had paid previously. Adunni respectfully declined the offer, requested
his bank account details, and promptly transferred the full refund of N150,000
on the same day, providing proof of both payments.
Tragically, Murphy Afolabi passed away on May 14, 2023, after
a fall in his Ikorodu home. He was laid to rest on May 15, 2023, at his home.
Amidst these events, Adunni had previously caused controversy within the Yoruba
movie industry by claiming that stakeholders were paid N90,000 to endorse Bola
Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election. Following her claim, she alleged
receiving threats to her life from Koko Zaria, who is known as the right-hand
man of Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, a leader in the Lagos
transport union.
Adunni Ade’s statement aimed to clarify the allegations
against her and provide a detailed account of the monetary transactions between
her and the late Murphy Afolabi. She also shared screenshots as evidence of the
payments made to Murphy. With her response, Adunni hoped to clear her name and
address the accusations made against her during the solemn occasion of Murphy’s
eighth-day fidau prayer.
