Junior Pope’s death: I could also have been victim of capsized boat, says film producer

The Movie producer, Adanma Luke who engaged the late Nollywood actor, John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope for the ill-fated movie, ‘The Other Side of Life’, has disclosed that she missed the capsized boat which claimed live of Odonwodo and four others having arrived late after the boat had taken off.

Penpushing reports that Luke lamenting the loss explained that she contracted Odonwodo for a role in the movie production because of appeals from the deceased actor and his wife adding that, that was the first time working with Junior Pope

‘My production manager was calling me to bring memory card so they could start filming, and I told him to come and collect it (from my house). He said, ‘Mama, you know this place is far; please just bring it for us. I said, ‘Okay’

“So, on 10 April (the day the boat capsized), while I was getting ready to go drop the card with them, I was accompanied by my brother’s children – two kids that were supposed to go with me. We were supposed to be on that boat together’, she recalled

Penpushing further reports that the filmmaker, who on Thursday, voluntarily turned herself in to the police, who said they were investigating any criminal liability on the unfortunate incident stated that, they were her family; and she’s traumatised’ .

‘I was supposed to be in the capsized boat. This is my first time working with Junior Pope. He’s, my friend. The wife is my friend too. I talked to the wife sometime, and that was when she said, ‘Why aren’t you giving my husband work? Junior Pope said, ‘Ada, you be my friend, why you no dey give me work?’, she said

‘I told Junior Pope that you know it is action films you usually shoot, I hardly do action (movies). He said no that he also does love stories, he could do other things. He said that’s why he’s an artiste. I said I forgot that as an artiste he could do anything. And I said it’s okay. Don’t worry (I would contract you in my next movie shooting)’, Luke narrated.

“I’ve been so traumatised. I’ve been so cold. I still can’t believe this. These crew members were my family. They’ve been working with me. If I’m working in Lagos, they’ll come from Asaba to come and work with me. All through last year, we stayed together in Lagos’.

‘We were filming and working together. This whole thing, it still feels like a dream to me. I blame myself that I would have been in Lagos, doing my thing in Lagos. I blame myself for coming down to Asaba,” she said while shedding tears.

Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that the actor and four others drowned after their boat capsized in Anam River in Anambra State on Wednesday while returning from the movie shoot, while the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) had earlier said 12 individuals were on the ill-fated boat.

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) added that of the 12, seven were successfully rescued, two found dead, including Odonwodo while three others –two females and one male were declared missing.

Penpushing reports that the Anambra State Police Command on, Friday, said they had recovered bodies of the three missing Nollywood stars, adding that investigation has commenced investigation to unravel any criminal liability in the cause of death of Odonwodo and four others.

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in a statement by the National President, Emeka Rollas on Thursday barred actors from dealing with Luke for the time being and equally announced the suspension of the production of ‘The other side of Life,’ the movie which led to the accident.

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