Producer Adanma Luke refutes claims of abandoning Junior Pope and others

Adanma Luke, a movie producer, refutes allegations that she abandoned the family of Junior Pope and others who died in a boat catastrophe.

Adanma was accused of ignoring their need for assistance in providing finances for burial and welfare, but the filmmaker denied the allegations in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

The mother of one said she has been working with her team to ensure the bodies are returned home for proper burial, and she has also helped the police with their investigations.

She wrote: “It has become necessary for me to make a statement because of the false allegations being made against me. Since the tragic loss of Junior Pope, Abigail, Precious, Friday and Olanti, my team and I have been actively collaborating with the families to provide all necessary funds as requested, from the gravediggers to the divers and fuel for the police officers involved in the search for the bodies.

This also includes expenses for caskets, ambulances, and additional funds to cover other related costs.

“Each crew member’s family received agreed amounts, and some decided to have their loved ones buried by the waterside as they believe that those who die by drowning should be laid to rest near water.This ritual involved invoking the spirit into a casket lined with a plantain leaf, which was then sent to the family for burial. I have video evidence of their agreement to these arrangements.

“Additionally, my team and I arranged the departure of the ambulance from Asaba to the homes of Precious and Friday. As a result of this, my team and I will be sharing details and video proof of everything that has happened since this tragedy. In this time of huge loss and mourning for these families, the allegations that I have not taken any action are complete lies. My team and I remain in communication with the police and members of the families who have lost their loved ones.”

Junior Pope was pronounced dead on the night of April 10 after multiple attempts at reviving him failed. The actor, together with make-up artist Abigail Frederick and the production crew, drowned in the Anam River on their way back from the set of Another Side of Life, a film produced by Adanma Luke.