Defamatory allegations of fraud against Silverbird Cinemas by Mrs Blessing Effiom Egbe with respect to the Movie - Two Brides and a Baby - The true position
It has come to our attention that a certain Mrs. Blessing Effiom Egbe has been making disparaging allegations of fraud and unethical practices against Silverbird Cinemas with respect to the exhibition of the movie ‘Two Brides and a Baby’ which was produced by her. The said Mrs. Egbe has gone to the extent of issuing a press statement dated 28/02/2012 and titled ‘Notification of scam and impending lawsuit’. She has also engaged in a campaign of calumny against Silverbird Cinemas on different social media geared towards inciting public hatred against Silverbird Cinemas. It has therefore become necessary to set the records straight in the face of what is obviously cheap blackmail by Mrs. Egbe.
It is important to make it clear from the onset that Silverbird Cinemas does not have any direct business relationship with Mrs. Egbe. In its business as exhibitors of movies to the general public, Silverbird Cinemas deals only with approved movie distributors based on agreed contractual terms. This was not different in the case of the movie Two Brides and a Baby.
Silverbird Cinemas acquired the rights to exhibit Two brides and a baby from Okhma Global Limited run by one Ms. Mary Ephraim Ita whom we understand is the distributor for the movie and appointed by Mrs. Egbe. Based on the contract signed between Silverbird Cinemas and Okhma Global, it was agreed that the movie would be exhibited at Silverbird Cinemas in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Lagos. In all the period of the negotiation, Silverbird dealt directly with Okhma Global Limited to the exclusion of all other persons.
It was agreed between Silverbird Cinemas and Okhma Global Limited that the movie was to be exhibited for a minimum of three weeks and for such extended periods thereafter based on the performance of the movie. To this end, Silverbird Cinemas provided Okhma Global Limited with the movie schedules and sales report for each week in advance for the period that the exhibition lasted.
When Silverbird Cinemas expressed its desire to extend the screening of the movie as provided for under the agreement with Okhma Global, it forwarded the movie schedule for the week spanning 27th January 2012 – 2nd February 2012 by email to Okhma Global through its contact person, one Ms. Victoria Agbor. The notification of the schedule which represented the apparent intention to exhibit the movie in the week referred to was never objected to, neither did Silverbird Cinemas receive any notice of termination of the Agreement.
It is therefore incorrect as it is being insinuated by Mrs. Egbe in her press release that the movie was shown beyond 13th January 2012 without her requisite knowledge and consent or that of Okhma Global. Silverbird Cinemas has been in the business of exhibiting both local and international movies for quite a while and its integrity has never been questioned in such a despicable manner. Silverbird Cinemas maintains that it has fulfilled all its contractual obligations with respect to Two Brides and a Baby to Okhma Global which has not raised any issue with it. We would have expected therefore that Mrs. Egbe would have channelled her grievances towards her distributor (Okhma Global) rather than dragging Silverbird Cinemas into her private vendetta.
Silverbird Cinemas is therefore justifiably embarrassed by the contents of the Press Release as well as the various libellous publications instigated by Mrs. Egbe in different social media, blogs and websites including but not limited to her Tweeter account, Linda Ikeji’s blog and Nigeriafilms.com which seem to suggest that Silverbird Cinemas fraudulently made copies of the movie to exhibit illegally without the knowledge and consent of Okhma Global or that it has failed to make the necessary royalty payments for the exhibition to Okhma Global which it contracted with.
Silverbird Cinemas views these serious allegations of fraud contained in these publications as unfounded, vexatious, defamatory and a deliberate attempt to smear its hard-won corporate integrity. As a responsible corporate organization , it abides with all the extant Codes of Corporate Governance and goes to great lengths to maintain transparency in all its corporate dealings. Mrs. Egbe’s indiscretion in going public with such unfounded and malicious allegations of a grievous nature as fraud despite explanations made to her to forward any reservations or enquiries she might have with the contract for the exhibition of the movie to Okhma Global has caused Silverbird Cinemas loss of business reputation and goodwill, as it is constantly inundated daily with calls by its business associates seeking to verify the truth of the allegations.
We have also noted the negative comments and conclusions reached by the general public on the websites, blogs and social media based on the stories published on the instigation of Mrs. Egbe. We have therefore instructed our team of lawyers to undertake a review of the circumstances surrounding this episode and we may be constrained to commence legal action against Mrs. Egbe if she does not make a retraction of the defamatory statements she has made against Silverbird Cinemas along with an apology for her false and unfounded statements. Silverbird as an advocate of the growth and development of the Nigerian entertainment industry will continue to support the industry including Nollywood irrespective of the negative publicity.
We also urge members of the press to balance their reporting of this incident based on verifiable facts in line with the best ethics of journalism. Silverbird Communications Limited and by extension, Silverbird Cinemas has an open door policy towards media relations and is always available to make any clarifications on this issue that may be required. For further enquiries, please contact Ayotunde Sewanu on 08030733433.
Signed:
Management.
