The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has announced the suspension of actress Halima Abubakar following an inquiry into her alleged “unprofessional misconduct.”
In a memorandum issued on Friday, the guild stated that it had determined Halima to be “guilty of disseminating false information regarding fellow members, associates, and patrons, which includes claims of extramarital relationships with prominent individuals.”
The AGN revealed that a two-year investigation, carried out by a specialized secret panel, had revealed Halima’s “participation in defaming Nollywood.”
Furthermore, the guild indicated that the actress will be brought before the national disciplinary committee to ascertain the extent of her punishment.
During her suspension, the guild has mandated that she refrain from engaging in any filming activities.
Additionally, the AGN mentioned that the secret panel is probing other female members who are reportedly implicated in scandals involving Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President.
“Following the thorough investigative report by the special Secret Investigation Panel set up to conduct an internal underground secret investigation into the activities of some blogs/bloggers since 2022,” the memo reads.
“After two years of painstaking investigations, the Panel found out that Miss Halima Abubakar was behind all the slandering information of our members, associates and patrons, especially news of extramarital affairs linked with highly placed individuals in the society emanating from the industry.
“Therefore, Halima Abubakar is hereby suspended from the Actors Guild of Nigeria indefinitely. She will face the National Disciplinary Committee to determine her full punishment.”
During her suspension period, she is not permitted to participate in any Agn and or filming activities.
“The National/State Chapter Taskforces have been duly mandated to monitor the compliance of the above order as violations of the suspension rules may lead to further disciplinary actions.
“On behalf of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, I commend the professional and incisive work done by members of the secret investigative panel.
“However, some female members on the watch-list are being investigated by the secret panel, especially in the recent release of names purported to have had dealings with the Senate President,” the memo added.
In April, the federal high court in Abuja mandated the actress to pay N10 million in damages due to her publication of disparaging comments about cleric Johnson Suleman.
In 2022, Halima publicly accused the general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International on social media, alleging that they had previously been in a relationship.
In response, Suleman threatened legal action against her for what he termed “defamatory statements.”
Additionally, a blogger alleged that the cleric had engaged in relationships with various Nollywood actresses, including Georgina Onuoha, Queen Nwokoye, Shan George, and Vivian Metchie.
The blog post also implicated Lilian Bach, Iyabo Ojo, Ruth Kadiri, Mercy Johnson, Chinyere Winifred, Larriet Omo Brish, Ini Edo, Joy Ogbunu, Angela Okorie, and Mary Uranta as part of Suleman’s purported sexual victims.
In reaction to these allegations, Suleman dismissed the reports as an implausible list of names intended to tarnish his reputation.
Similarly, Akpabio refuted allegations of extramarital affairs in July 2024.
