Toyin Abraham has publicly addressed claims surrounding payments to her former protégé, Abike Shugaa, following a viral video that revisited their past professional relationship.
Taking to X on Friday, Abraham dismissed reports suggesting she paid larger sums than what she described, maintaining that the figures being circulated online are inaccurate.
“I never paid anyone such, I paid 500k for Malaika and 50k for two scenes in Ijakumo and the director removed it, pls I won’t say a word,” she wrote.
The controversy stems from a detailed video shared by Shugaa, whose real name is Pelumi Olawuni. In the clip, she reflected on her experience working with Abraham, particularly on the film Ijakumo: The Born Again Stripper.
Shugaa acknowledged that she was paid promptly for her work, emphasizing her initial appreciation:
“After the job, she paid me 50,000 Naira immediately. She didn’t owe me.”
“And I was sincerely grateful for that. Cause I… needed the money.”
According to her, she participated in filming two scenes and was compensated accordingly.
“I shot, I think I shot about two scenes… she paid me 50,000 naira for the two scenes,” she said.
She also claimed to have been actively involved in promoting the project, recalling multiple video shoots:
“We shot about 20 videos. I can’t remember.”
At the time, she believed the role would mark a significant step in her career.
“I told my friends, this is my first cinema debut… I’m in the movie.”
However, her expectations were later dashed when she discovered she did not appear in the final version of the film.
“When I saw the movie, I didn’t see myself in it,” she said, adding that she was informed her scenes had been removed.
The experience, she noted, had an emotional impact:
“I cried about it to my own family. I didn’t say anything to her,” she said.
The resurfaced account has sparked widespread discussion across social media, with reactions split between those questioning the payment structure and others defending Abraham’s contribution to Shugaa’s early opportunities in the industry.
Shugaa, who previously featured in Malaika in a leading role, was once considered part of Abraham’s close creative circle. However, their relationship is believed to have deteriorated over time, particularly as Shugaa became more associated with projects linked to Funke Akindele and broader industry dynamics.
As of now, Shugaa has not released any further statements beyond the viral video, while Abraham’s post on X remains her only public response to the issue.