Chief Emeka Rollas, the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), was arrested and detained by the police in Umuahia, Abia State, following a dispute concerning the leadership of the AGN’s Abia State chapter.
Rollas’ detention stems from his alleged involvement in the imposition of an unelected chairman for the state chapter, bypassing the elected chairman, David Onyebuchi Amalaha.
Amalaha was elected as the chairman of the Abia State chapter on May 20, 2023, but his leadership has been contested due to actions from the national body.
Since Amalaha’s election, the guild has been embroiled in legal battles, with Amalaha actively seeking to prevent the imposition of interim leaders by the national executive.
Several members of the guild, including Chika Okezie, Egwuatu Daniel, and Nathaniel Nwoko, have criticized Rollas for allegedly causing divisions within the Abia chapter.
They claim that he has appointed multiple interim chairmen since 2023, disregarding the wishes of the local members.
Tensions heightened on Thursday when Rollas called for a meeting in Umuahia without consulting Amalaha or other key stakeholders.
The meeting quickly turned chaotic as protests erupted, leading to the intervention of the police to restore order.
Sources indicate that a petition was filed against Rollas at the Zone 9 police headquarters, prompting his detention alongside Emmanuel Ehumadu, known as Labista.
