Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has publicly distanced himself from Henry Odenigbo, a movie producer and CEO of Ason-Rich Movie Production, who was recently killed in a shootout with Lagos police. The police had identified Odenigbo as the ringleader of a kidnap gang targeting wealthy individuals in the state.
Lagos police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the deaths of the kidnappers following a gun battle in Ladipo Mushin. Although the identities of the slain kidnappers were not initially disclosed, photos of Odenigbo began circulating online, leading to widespread speculation.
Actor and filmmaker Stanley Nwoko, also known as Stanley Ontop, posted images of Odenigbo, alleging his involvement in the criminal gang. In response, Yul Edochie took to Instagram to clear his name and debunk rumors of a personal relationship with the deceased.
In a video posted on his Instagram account, Edochie, 42, explained that he had only met Odenigbo once, during a movie shoot in June. He stated, “The guy wasn’t my friend. I’ve been in Nollywood for 19 years, going on 20 years. I only saw this guy once when I shot a movie for him a few weeks ago.”
Edochie recounted that a director had contracted him for a movie and introduced him to Odenigbo on set. “I think he called himself Ason-Rich Henry,” Edochie said. “On the last day of shooting, he came to me, said he was excited to work with me, and asked for a picture. That was the first and only time I saw him.”
The viral photo of Edochie and Odenigbo, taken on the movie set at Odenigbo’s request, has fueled rumors that the two were friends. Edochie emphasized, “He is not my friend. I got to know him as a producer, and I don’t know why people are circulating my picture.”
Odenigbo had produced over ten movies in 2024, collaborating with notable actors such as Edochie, Kelvin Ikeduba, and Eve Esin. One of his films, “Sharon’s Fate,” featured Edochie and remains unreleased. The late producer had shared behind-the-scenes photos of the project on his Instagram page in June.
As the community grapples with the shocking news, Edochie’s statement aims to clarify his professional relationship with Odenigbo and distance himself from the latter’s criminal activities.
