Mo Abudu Responds to Allegations of Cinema Bias Favoring Certain Films

Mosunmola "Mo Abudu" Abudu, a notable media mogul and philanthropist, has countered allegations that cinema owners show favoritism by prioritizing certain films in their screening schedules.

In December 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a group of actors and filmmakers, including Femi Branch, Niyi Akinmolayan, Toyin Abraham, and Ini Edo, claimed that some cinemas were discouraging viewers from watching their productions.

The actors further alleged that some cinema employees openly supported specific films by donning branded merchandise, which they argued undermined neutrality and encouraged preferential treatment within the cinema setting.

Addressing these accusations during an episode of “Perspectives” on Arise TV, where fellow guest Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde mentioned that a bias does exist in the cinema landscape, Abudu clarified the situation.

She explained her perspective by stating that the scheduling of film screenings is strictly based on return on investment. Abudu, who leads EbonyLife Media, remarked, "It’s not true for everybody. While I can’t speak for all cinemas across Nigeria, I can attest to our practices at EbonyLife Cinemas. We operate a professional enterprise, and our financial success hinges on having fully occupied cinemas. Thus, it is in our best interest to ensure maximum attendance."

Abudu further illustrated her point, saying, "For instance, at EbonyLife, we have five cinemas operating six screenings a day – that totals 900 screenings each month. There is ample opportunity for all films to be showcased. Should a film not attract viewers, it is logical to consider rescheduling it."

She emphasized that audience attendance is critical in determining the availability of a film’s screening slots. If attendance for any particular production is low, it will be pulled from cinemas, irrespective of its creator.

"There is no bias against who shows up in the cinema space. It doesn’t matter whether it's her, Moses, or even myself. When I released a film last year that didn’t perform well, we had to remove it from circulation. It’s purely a business decision to maximize returns on investment. This principle holds true no matter who produced the film," she asserted.

Abudu went on to suggest that what some perceive as favoritism may be attributed to promotional activities surrounding certain films. She noted that many filmmakers fail to market or promote their films adequately before release.

"There are instances where actors coordinate promotional tours, visiting places like Ikeja and Ikoi to engage audiences. Some might misconstrue this as an attempt to elevate one film over another. However, the reality is that many filmmakers aren’t utilizing effective marketing strategies," she explained.