Nigerian actress Omotola Jalade has revealed that she was among eight Nollywood actors who were banned in 2015 after marketers accused them of being a “bad influence” for pushing for higher standards in the movie industry.

Speaking in an interview on YangaFM, the actress said the ban came at a time when she and some of her colleagues were advocating for improvements in Nollywood, a move that reportedly created tensions with some industry stakeholders.

According to Omotola, marketers at the time felt the actors were becoming too demanding because they were insisting on better practices and standards within the industry.

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“That phase started in 2015 wey them ban us that first time. Before that time we dey work,” she said in pidgin

She explained that the initial group of actors affected included herself, Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), and Nkem Owoh, among others.

“The first eight na me, Genevieve, Ramsey Noah, Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus, RMD, Nkem Owoh, who be the last person?” she listed in English mixed with pidgin.

Omotola added that the ban was later expanded, but she declined to attend a reconciliation meeting organised to address the issue.

“They call for a meeting, a reconciliation meeting, and I refuse to go,” she said.

“Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, RMD, Jim Iyke and I were all banned from acting in 2005 because we were pushing to raise the standard of the Nigerian movie industry.”

—Omotola Jalade pic.twitter.com/LWM1KQebMc

— carter🌚 (@carter8f) September 7, 2026