Tragedy Strikes Nollywood: Two Crew Members Found Dead on Lekki Movie Set Amid Mystery

The Nigerian film industry is reeling from a heartbreaking loss as two prominent behind-the-scenes talents were discovered lifeless in a vehicle during a production shoot in Lekki Phase 1. Godstime Imeh, widely known as GT or GeeTee, a respected lighting director and CEO of GeeTee Lights who contributed to major projects like King of Boys and music videos for stars such as Davido, along with his close associate Ayodeji Walter Odediran, a 36-year-old cinematographer affectionately called Deji, met an untimely end on February 7, 2026.

The duo, who were childhood friends and frequent collaborators, arrived early that Saturday morning at the filming location on the premises of Evercare Hospital to set up lighting and prepare scenes for the ongoing movie, reportedly directed by former Big Brother Naija housemate Boma Akpore. After completing their tasks, they retreated to Imeh’s tinted Nissan vehicle to rest with the air conditioning running. Around 11 a.m., a production welfare team member delivered breakfast to them inside the car, where they appeared relaxed as principal photography began.

Filming proceeded through the day with assistants handling their roles, and it wasn’t until the wrap at approximately 8 p.m. that alarm bells rang. Crew members checked the parked vehicle and found Imeh slumped over with foam around his mouth and traces of blood near his nose and lips, while Odediran was unresponsive. There were no visible signs of struggle, injury, or forced entry into the car, which remained undisturbed. Emergency responders rushed the bodies to a nearby hospital, likely Evercare, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

The Lagos State Police Command swiftly secured the scene, with the case initially reported at Maroko Police Station before being escalated to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a deeper probe. In a significant development, authorities arrested a suspect—a production team member who delivered the food to the victims—as part of the ongoing investigation. Lagos Police Public Relations Officer CSP Abimbola Adebisi confirmed the arrest, stating, “One suspect has been arrested. The suspect was the one who delivered food to the victims in the vehicle. Investigation is still ongoing.” CCTV footage from the hospital premises is being reviewed, and the bodies have been moved to a morgue for further examination.

Preliminary autopsy results, shared with the families on February 18, have ruled out food poisoning as the cause of death. Shockingly, Odediran’s stomach was found empty, while Imeh’s contained only a minimal amount of food residue, baffling investigators. Toxicology and histology tests on blood and tissue samples are now underway to detect any exposure to poisons, chemicals, or harmful gases, with results anticipated in two to three weeks. Kola Odediran, elder brother of the late cinematographer, told NaijaChoice News, “The autopsy itself is complete, and no food was found in my late brother. The results indicate he did not eat anything. But they are going to carry out toxicology and histology tests, which will provide the definitive answers we are looking for.”

Industry insiders and online discussions have speculated on carbon monoxide poisoning as a potential culprit, given the enclosed vehicle with the engine running for hours in a possibly poorly ventilated area. This silent killer has been flagged as a risk in high-pressure film environments where long hours and fatigue can lead to safety oversights. Welfare staff and food providers were briefly detained but released following the autopsy findings.

This tragedy adds to a growing list of on-set mishaps in Nollywood, spotlighting the vulnerabilities of crew members—the unsung heroes who toil behind the cameras without the glamour afforded to actors. As NaijaChoice News continues to monitor developments, calls are mounting for stricter safety protocols, including better ventilation awareness and mandatory health checks on productions. The film community mourns the loss of these pillars, whose contributions shaped countless stories on screen. May their souls rest in peace.