Soun’s Palace Refutes Lere Paimo’s Claims, Says Ogbori Elemoso History Is Public Domain

Soun’s Palace Refutes Lere Paimo’s Claims, Says Ogbori Elemoso History Is Public Domain

The Palace of the Soun of Ogbomosoland has dismissed as misleading claims credited to veteran filmmaker and thespian, Chief Lere Paimo, regarding an alleged remaking of the Ogbori Elemoso film, describing the assertions as inaccurate and capable of causing unnecessary public speculation.

In an official statement issued by the Media Assistant to the Soun, the Palace said it was compelled to address the matter to set the record straight, despite its long-standing tradition of avoiding public controversies—particularly one involving Baba Lere Paimo, a respected palace chief and the Aare Arobajo of Ogbomosoland.

The statement explained that His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, had earlier contacted Baba Lere Paimo to inform him of plans to creatively reinterpret aspects of Ogbomosoland history into a movie project designed to meet global storytelling standards, with possible distribution on platforms such as Netflix. As part of the initiative, the monarch invited the veteran actor to participate as both an actor and a creative contributor.

According to the Palace, the ₦7.5 million offered to Baba Lere Paimo was strictly an engagement fee for his participation in the project and not payment for the acquisition of any copyright. It added that findings confirmed that the Ogbori Elemoso story is in the public domain and not subject to exclusive ownership.

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“For the avoidance of doubt, Baba Lere Paimo was offered the sum of ₦7.5 million, which was significantly higher than what was offered to other contributors,” the statement said.
“The offer was unfortunately misconstrued as payment for copyright ownership, which was never intended.”

The Palace further emphasized that no individual can claim exclusive ownership of a town’s history, noting that the film currently in production bears a different title, storyline, and plot structure, although it draws inspiration from the historical heritage of Ogbomosoland.

“As custodian of the people’s culture and history, His Imperial Majesty maintains that history is dynamic and open to diverse interpretations,” the statement noted, adding that the project was never meant to distort or appropriate historical facts.

While acknowledging that Baba Lere Paimo had previously narrated his version of the Ogbori Elemoso story in past engagements, the Palace stressed that the forthcoming movie, scheduled for release next year, is not an exclusive retelling of any single individual’s account.

The Palace clarified that the issue does not amount to a legal dispute and would have been better resolved through private engagement rather than public commentary. However, it said the clarification became necessary to curb the spread of misinformation.

The statement concluded by reaffirming the Palace’s commitment to preserving Ogbomosoland’s heritage while encouraging creative expressions that project its history to a global audience with accuracy, dignity, and respect.

Soun’s Palace Refutes Lere Paimo’s Claims, Says Ogbori Elemoso History Is Public Domain