Nkechi Blessing Makes Amends with TAMPAN Over Baba Ijesha Controversy

Nkechi Blessing Makes Peace with TAMPAN

“You all made me who I am today. I am being celebrated all over the world because of you. Please, I'm sorry...”

Nollywood's Nkechi Blessing apologizes to TAMPAN's Bolaji Amusa, ending feud sparked by Baba Ijesha's conviction and Jide Kosoko's directorial ban.

Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing has apologized to the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) for her involvement in a social media dispute with colleague Adams Kehinde (Lege Miami) in May 2021.

The controversy began when Nkechi Blessing and fellow actress Iyabo Ojo publicly condemned actor Baba Ijesha for allegedly defiling comedian Princess's daughter. This sparked a heated verbal exchange on Instagram with Lege Miami, leading to their indefinite suspension from Yoruba movie sets by TAMPAN.

By tendering her apology, Nkechi Blessing seeks to reconcile with TAMPAN and potentially lift the suspension. This move may pave the way for her return to Yoruba film sets.

Comedian Baba Ijesha was convicted and sentenced by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Special Offences Court on July 14, 2022, for raping a 14-year-old minor after a 12-month trial.

Veteran actor Jide Kosoko subsequently banned directors from collaborating with Nkechi Blessing and Iyabo Ojo, prompting Nkechi to publicly criticize the decision.

In a surprising turn of events, Nkechi Blessing apologized to the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) at the Celebrities Entertainment Awards in Canada.

On stage, Blessing knelt down with a microphone, tearfully offering a heartfelt apology to TAMPAN's president, Bolaji Amusa (Mr. Latin), seeking forgiveness and reconciliation.

Nkechi Blessing, overwhelmed with emotion, publicly apologized to the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) at the Celebrities Entertainment Awards in Canada. “I'm so sorry for all that I did. I'm begging from the bottom of my heart that I miss the industry. You all made me who I am today. I am being celebrated all over the world because of you. Please, I'm sorry,” she pleaded.

Her heartfelt apology was met with acceptance and forgiveness from TAMPAN's president, Bolaji Amusa (Mr. Latin), and praise from fellow actor Odunlade Adekola. Mr. Latin acknowledged her apology, bringing a sense of resolution to the situation.

This apology comes after Nkechi Blessing and Adams Kehinde (Lege Miami) were suspended indefinitely from Yoruba movie sets by TAMPAN following their heated verbal exchange on Instagram. Lege Miami had earlier appealed his suspension in a one-minute video captioned “I am sorry.”

However, Nkechi Blessing initially responded to the suspension with defiance, renouncing her association with TAMPAN via an Instagram video. In the video, she questioned the rationale behind her suspension and criticized the association.

She said, “It came as a shock to me because usually, in an organised organisation, you're not supposed to serve anybody a letter on social media. I did not join the industry through social media; that is the number one error they wrote to themselves, not to me.

“You claim I'm one of your members in your association, you didn't call me, you didn't send a text, you didn't send an email. You didn't try contacting me in any way, and you put up whatever you put up on Instagram without even tagging me; some other person sent it to me; who does that?

Blessing added, “We all have the right to express our opinions on our platforms. How can you suspend me when I've never been a part of your association or attended your meetings?”