Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has announced that she will no longer involve herself in the ongoing dispute between fellow actresses Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, following fresh tensions at the Lagos premiere of her latest film, The Return of Arinzo, on Sunday.
The premiere became a talking point on social media after reports suggested Funke Akindele appeared to snub Toyin Abraham, reigniting fan speculation about the lingering feud between the two industry stars.
Reacting to criticism from fans who accused her of fueling the drama, Iyabo insisted she played no role in the renewed fallout.
“For those maligning my character and calling me unprintable names, this is for you,” she said, addressing social media critics.
She recounted that her friendship with Funke Akindele spans several years, acknowledging that they have had disagreements in the past. She admitted to previously taking sides during Toyin’s movie release, which she now considers a misstep.
“I once came online to drag Funke because of Toyin’s movie. That was wrong. I should have handled it better. We later made up and moved on,” Iyabo said.
Iyabo also revealed that she had previously attempted to mediate between Funke and Toyin, even personally pleading with both actresses to resolve their differences. The reconciliation came with specific conditions, including a commitment to avoid public “shading” or online quarrels.
However, she traced the breakdown of that peace to December 2025, when Toyin Abraham raised concerns about alleged sabotage of her movie in cinemas — a claim that led fans to speculate that Funke was involved, reigniting tensions.
READ ALSO: Toyin Abraham vows to cut ties with Funke Akindele after public snub
“I tried my best, cried, knelt down and begged them to make peace. They agreed, which is why people saw them together again months ago. But they had a condition not to shade each other online. Unfortunately, things changed in December,” Iyabo explained.
Addressing Toyin’s absence at The Return of Arinzo premiere, Iyabo stated that the actress had initially been part of the project but withdrew at the last minute due to exhaustion and travel commitments. The last-minute change forced Iyabo to make costly adjustments to the film’s storyline.
“I was upset because it affected production and I had to rewrite parts of the story. But she later apologised and we settled,” she added.
Despite her previous efforts to mediate, Iyabo Ojo confirmed she is now stepping back from the feud, signaling that she will no longer intervene in the public or private disagreements between Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham.
Industry watchers note that while Nollywood feuds often attract public attention, Iyabo’s decision to disengage may allow the actresses to resolve their issues privately, potentially avoiding further social media controversies.