Lagos court demands public apology from ‘Gang of Lagos’

Lagos State High court on march 12 2025, has ruled in favor of the Isale-Eko Descendants Union (IEDU).

This legal action comes against Amazon Web Services Nigeria and the producers of Gangs of Lagos.

The court mandated that both parties issue a public apology for misrepresenting the Eyo Festival and the Isale-Eko community.

The lawsuit, filed under Suit No: LD/6903GCM/2023, was brought by members of the Isale-Eko community.

How ever, the community contended that the film, available on Amazon Prime Video, misrepresented their cultural heritage in an offensive and distorted manner.

The crux of the case, centered on the depiction of the Eyo Masquerade, a revered symbol of peace and tradition.

The plaintiffs argument was erroneously linked to gang violence in the film.

Following months of legal proceedings, Justice Idowu Alakija approved a settlement agreement between the parties involved.

As part of the resolution, the producers of Gangs of Lagos (Respondents 3-11) are now required to publicly acknowledge their misrepresentation of the Eyo Festival.

Regarding to this, they are asked to issue a formal apology to the Isale-Eko people.

In addition, Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited (Respondent 12), which facilitated the film’s distribution, must issue an apology on its official letterhead.

This will address the concerns raised by the Isale-Eko Descendants Union.

Commenting on the court’s ruling, Adeniji Kazeem, Chairman of the Isale-Eko Descendants Union, described the verdict as a monumental victory in protecting Nigeria’s cultural identity.

“The protection of our tradition”

Standing with Lagos court,

Kazeem wrote; “This verdict sets a precedent for the protection of our indigenous traditions,

“and ensures that filmmakers approach cultural representation with greater responsibility”.

Kazeem emphasized that the judgment sets an important precedent for safeguarding indigenous traditions.

He also urged filmmakers to approach cultural representations with greater responsibility.

He further called for more stringent content guidelines from both national and state film regulatory bodies.

Kazeem specifically made this known for films distributed on global streaming platforms.

According to him, inaccurate portrayals of cultural symbols not only mislead audiences but also undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s rich heritage.

The release of Gangs of Lagos had sparked widespread debate.

Many people’s opinions are divided on whether the film’s portrayal was a matter of creative license or cultural insensitivity.

While some defending the film as a fictional narrative, others contended that Nollywood, as a major cultural force, has an obligation to depict real communities with accuracy and respect.

With the court ruling now in place, attention turns to the filmmakers and Amazon Web Services.

The Lagos State court now wait  to see how the film makers comply with the mandated apology.

They also wait to see whether this will set a new standard for cultural representation in Nigerian cinema moving forward.

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