Ladipo Kidnappers: “Henry Odenigbo is Not My Friend” Yul Edochie Clarifies

In a recent development, actor Yul Edochie has distanced himself from the late filmmaker Henry Odenigbo, who was implicated in a kidnapping ring.

Edochie emphasized his lack of personal connection with Odenigbo, stressing that any association drawn from their professional interaction is misleading. “Any story that has to do with me, they’ll blow it out of proportion because anything with my name on it sells, but this is wrong,” Edochie said.

Earlier reports revealed that Lagos police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin announced the death of kidnappers in a gun battle in Ladipo Mushin, following intelligence about their plan to abduct wealthy individuals. However, the identities of the slain kidnappers were not disclosed.

Days later, filmmaker Stanley Nwoko, also known as Stanley Ontop, alleged that Odenigbo was the “ringleader” of the gang, sharing photos of him online. Odenigbo, the CEO of Ason-Rich Movie Production, had produced over ten movies in 2024 and worked with notable actors, including Edochie.

Edochie confirmed his participation in one of Odenigbo’s films, “Sharon’s Fate,” yet to be released. He explained that their interaction was purely professional and limited to the movie set, where a photo of them was taken. “It’s standard on movie sets for actors, crew, and cast to take pictures with each other and with fans,” he noted.

Addressing the viral photo, Edochie stated in an Instagram video, “According to the police, the guy is a kidnapper. I’ve heard stories and noticed that some blogs posted my picture with him, implying he’s my friend. So, I want to state that the guy wasn’t my friend.” He further clarified that he met Odenigbo only once during the filming of “Sharon’s Fate.”

Edochie also threatened legal action against bloggers associating him with Odenigbo. “To those spreading this information, I hope you can defend it in court or at the police station because it’s coming. If you want to write a story about a producer who was shot and labelled a kidnapper, use his picture, not mine,” he warned.

He expressed frustration over the negative reports, lamenting, “Any story that has to do with me, they’ll blow it out of proportion because anything with my name on it sells, but this is wrong.”

Henry Odenigbo’s Career and Background

Odenigbo’s Ason-Rich Movie Production released numerous films in 2024, including “Born in the Ghetto,” “Love At The Pool,” and “Blind Blood.” Known for his bad-boy roles, Odenigbo received multiple accolades this year, such as the ‘Best Filmmaker in Port Harcourt’ by the Nollywood Indigenous Filmmakers of Nigeria (NIFMON) and Nolly TV’s Best Grassroots Filmmaker for 2024/2025.

Edochie’s clarification comes amidst his broader concern over the impact of misinformation on his reputation. “The bloggers aimed to destroy my reputation, but it cannot be tarnished because God established it,” he concluded.