Actress Stephanie Linus Accused Of Movie Script Theft

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Stephanie Okereke-Linus, award-winning Nollywood actress and producer may soon be embroiled in a copyright infringement battle over her much acclaimed movie ‘Dry’.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Stephanie is being accused of movie script theft by a lawyer and scriptwriter, Daniella Madudu who is demanding a suitable compensation of N60 million and royalties, failing which a civil and criminal action will be taken against Stephanie Okereke-Linus and her associate, Joy Ndidi.

‘Dry’ has fetched Stephanie series of award and accolades locally and internationally including multiple AMVCAs statuettes, the Programmers’ Award for Narrative Feature at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA and the ‘Best Protagonist’ Award at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas, USA.

But in the documents prepared on her behalf by Lagos-based solicitors, Rafiu Bello & Co, Madudu is requesting credits as owner of the original story, since a substantial part of the cinematography of Stephanie’s movie ‘Dry’ allegedly has “substantial similarity” and semblance to an original work, titled ‘Behind The Veil,’ written by Daniella Madudu.

The work is said to have been written as early as 2011.

According to the document, a certain Joy Ndidi, who has been a known associate of Stephanie was on Miss Madudu’s team of readers and editors in 2011. And this Associate is purported to have made a copy of the script ‘Behind The Veil’.

Madudu however was said not to had any inkling of foul play until the movie ‘Dry’ was premiered across cinemas in Nigeria, and her attention was drawn to the uncanny similarities in the stories.

As a result, she is requesting a suitable compensation of N60 million, and royalties.

Meanwhile, Stephanie is yet to respond to these allegations personally or through her legal team.