Nollywood has been thrust into a heated copyright controversy following allegations by filmmaker Lily Perez that fellow producer Chinney Love Eze unlawfully copied significant elements of her Christmas film, A Kristmas to Love, in a separate YouTube production.
Perez, working under Lily Perez Films, produced A Kristmas to Love as a festive drama that quickly gained traction with viewers. The film’s positive reception, however, soon gave way to controversy after audiences began noticing what they described as striking similarities between Perez’s movie and another Christmas-themed film credited to Eze.
The allegations gained momentum organically, with viewers taking to Eze’s YouTube comment section to question the originality of her project. Many pointed out that both films shared a near-identical plot structure, similar character arcs and even featured the same lead actor, fuelling concerns over possible copyright infringement.
Reacting to the backlash, Chinney Love Eze released a video denying any wrongdoing and insisting that her film was independently developed. Rather than calming the situation, her explanation appeared to intensify public criticism, with viewers describing her response as dismissive and highlighting what they perceived as inconsistencies in her account.
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The dispute deepened when actor Baaj Adebule, who appeared in both productions, publicly addressed the issue. In a video statement, Adebule revealed that Eze had watched A Kristmas to Love, directly contradicting her earlier public claims.
He further disclosed that he had raised concerns after reviewing the script for Eze’s film and later contacted Perez to apologise before the second movie was released. “I felt uneasy when I noticed the similarities and believed it was only right to acknowledge that the resemblance was obvious,” Adebule said, adding that the situation raised ethical questions.
Perez has since reiterated that she wrote the original screenplay in 2024 and maintains that she has documentary evidence to establish authorship. She challenged Eze to provide verifiable proof of originality and confirmed that her legal team has issued a formal letter of demand.
“This matter goes beyond personal grievances,” Perez said. “It speaks to the protection of intellectual property in Nollywood,” signalling her readiness to pursue legal action if the dispute is not resolved.
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