Chief Emeka Rollas, the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), has vehemently denied rumors circulating that he was arrested and detained by the police in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State. The claims suggested that his detention was linked to his alleged involvement in appointing an unelected chairman for the Abia State chapter of the guild.
In a direct conversation with a reporter, Rollas labeled these reports as “malicious and unfounded.” He clarified that he was in Umuahia due to a personal reason—the death of his mother-in-law—and took the opportunity to attend the first meeting called by the interim chairman of the Abia State chapter, Emmanuel Ehumadu, known as Labista. The purpose of his attendance was to boost member participation.
During the meeting, Rollas was addressing the attendees on the national programs for 2025 when an altercation arose. An individual from the crowd began to verbally attack him and issued threats, prompting Rollas to make a distress call to the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Zone 9. The police intervened swiftly, inviting the disruptor for questioning, which allowed the meeting to proceed without further incident. Post-meeting, Rollas visited the Umuahia police station to officially report the threat to his life.
“I was not arrested or detained,” Rollas emphasized, setting the record straight on the sequence of events.
Further corroborating Rollas’ account, Cornel Udofia, the spokesperson for the AGN president, issued a statement refuting the arrest narrative. He described the claims as “a figment of imagination” intended to embarrass both Rollas and the Nigeria Police Force. The statement highlighted that the reports were not only baseless but also aimed at discrediting Rollas, who has been pivotal in managing the guild’s affairs.
The backdrop to this incident involves internal politics within the Abia chapter of AGN. Since 2024, there have been disputes over leadership, with David Amalaha leading a faction after what was described by the national body as an “illegal and kangaroo election.” This has led to the appointment of interim leaders, with the latest being Emmanuel Ehumadu, whose meeting Rollas was attending when the disturbance occurred.
This situation underscores the complexities of managing a large organization like AGN, especially when local chapters face internal governance challenges. Rollas’ decision to involve the police illustrates not only a response to personal threats but also a commitment to maintaining order and legality within the guild’s operations, ensuring that members’ meetings can continue in a safe environment.
The clarification from Rollas and his team serves as a reminder of the importance of factual reporting in the age of rapid news dissemination, particularly when it involves public figures and potentially affects their reputation and the functioning of their organizations.
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