Fewchore Studios has firmly denied allegations of copyright infringement levelled by Nollywood veteran Chief Olalere Paimo, maintaining that no individual holds exclusive rights to the history of Ogbomosoland.
The production company denies remaking the veteran actor’s classic film, stating their project is an original historical adaptation authorised by the Soun of Ogbomosoland.
The rebuttal follows a public outcry by Paimo, popularly known as “Eda Onile Ola,” who claimed the studio was unlawfully remaking his classic 1980s film, Ogbori Elemoso, without his consent. Paimo had described the alleged infringement as an attempt to undermine his legacy, calling on prominent figures including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Pastor Enoch Adeboye to intervene.
However, in a statement released Thursday, Fewchore clarified that their upcoming production is an independent historical project based on Soun Ogunlola, the founder and first king of Ogbomoso—not a reproduction of Paimo’s creative work.
Addressing the core of the legal dispute, the studio argued that while Paimo owns the copyright to his specific cinematic adaptation, the historical narrative itself belongs to the public domain.
“No individual can lawfully claim exclusive ownership over the history of a town or its founding monarch,” the statement read. “We have not remade or reproduced any film, script, or creative work by Chief Olalere Osunpaimo, nor used any of his proprietary materials.”
Fewchore emphasized that the project was developed through independent research and has received the written authorization of the current Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye. The studio framed the production as an effort to promote cultural tourism and preserve heritage, rather than a commercial exploitation of existing intellectual property.
Furthermore, the studio shed light on failed negotiations between the parties, revealing that financial disagreements led to the breakdown of their relationship.
According to Fewchore, a meeting was held at Paimo’s residence where the veteran actor requested ₦30 million. In response, the studio offered ₦15 million, characterizing it not as a rights payment, but as a “goodwill gift” to honor his contribution to the genre.
A formal document was signed confirming it was a gift with ₦7.5 million paid as an initial instalment in the presence of witnesses, the studio explained.
However, following legal correspondence from Paimo’s representatives demanding the project be halted, the studio stated that the actor withdrew from the production and refunded the initial ₦7.5 million payment, but Fewchore reaffirmed its commitment to the project, insisting it has acted transparently and without coercion.