The Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, is embroiled in a serious intellectual property dispute that has sparked widespread debate online. The controversy centers on accusations by filmmaker Lily Perez that fellow producer Chinney Love Eze plagiarized major elements of her 2024 Christmas film, A Kristmas to Love.
The Heart of the Controversy: Striking Similarities
Lily Perez, through her company Lily Perez Films, released A Kristmas to Love as a festive drama in 2024. The film gained quick popularity for its heartwarming narrative. However, acclaim turned to controversy when sharp-eyed viewers noticed remarkable similarities between Perez's project and a separate Christmas-themed production credited to Chinney Love Eze, released on YouTube.
Fans and critics took to social media and the comment section of Eze's YouTube channel, questioning the originality of her work. Observers highlighted overlapping plotlines, character development arcs, and a crucial common element: the same lead actor, Baaj Adebule, appeared in both films. This confluence of factors ignited immediate concerns about potential copyright infringement.
Public Denials and Damaging Revelations
In response to the growing allegations, Chinney Love Eze released a video statement denying any wrongdoing. She insisted that her film was an independent creation developed without copying Perez's work. However, her explanation was met with skepticism and intensified public criticism, with many labeling her response as dismissive and inconsistent.
The situation took a significant turn when actor Baaj Adebule publicly addressed the matter. His revelations proved damaging to Eze's defense. Adebule confirmed that Eze had indeed watched A Kristmas to Love, which contradicted her claims of independent development. He also admitted that he had raised concerns about similarities after reading the script for Eze's film and had proactively contacted Lily Perez to apologize before its release.
"I felt uneasy when I noticed the similarities and believed it was only right to acknowledge that the resemblance was obvious," Adebule stated, emphasizing the ethical issues at play.
Legal Threats and Industry-Wide Implications
Lily Perez has firmly stood her ground, reaffirming that she wrote the original screenplay in 2024 and possesses documented evidence of her authorship. She publicly challenged Eze to provide verifiable proof of originality and confirmed that her legal team has issued a formal letter of demand. This action signals a clear willingness to escalate the matter to the courts if a resolution is not found.
"This matter goes beyond personal grievances. It speaks to the protection of intellectual property in Nollywood," Perez declared, framing the dispute as a critical test for the industry.
Fan reactions have been overwhelmingly critical of Eze, with many labeling her movie a "100 per cent copycat." The debate has expanded to question whether scripts are being resold or recycled within the industry. Film commentators note that this case, if pursued legally, could become a landmark moment for Nollywood, highlighting long-standing weaknesses in copyright enforcement and potentially pushing the sector toward stronger protections for original creative works.
As legal tensions rise, the film community and the public are watching closely. The outcome could set a crucial precedent for how intellectual property disputes are handled in one of the world's most prolific film industries.
