Priscilla Ojo Defends Her Mum, Iyabo Amid Funke Akindele & Toyin Abraham Drama

Nollywood stars Funke Akindele, Iyabo Ojo and Toyin Abraham are back in the headlines after a viral moment at the premiere of The Return of Arinzo. The star-studded event held on March 29 at Balmoral Event Centre in Lagos turned awkward when Toyin Abraham greeted Funke Akindele, who appeared to ignore her completely. Clips of the exchange spread rapidly online, sparking fresh debates about lingering tensions between the two box office heavyweights.

Iyabo Ojo, the movie’s producer and host, later broke her silence. She revealed she had tried several times to settle the rift between Funke and Toyin, even crying and kneeling to beg both women for peace. Iyabo said she is now stepping back from mediation, stressing that the sky is big enough for everyone in the industry. She also confirmed Toyin had pulled out of the film at the last minute due to exhaustion and travel commitments, forcing a script rewrite.

The backlash quickly turned towards Iyabo herself. Many netizens accused her of failing to intervene at the premiere and favouring one side over the other. As the noise grew louder, her daughter Priscilla Ojo refused to stay quiet.

In a strongly worded Instagram post, Priscilla defended her mother and pointed to what she called a clear pattern. “Always misunderstood, always blamed!! Even when she’s not the one in the mix,” she wrote. “Since Arinzo’s announcement, can’t you see the pattern? A lot of drama back to back just for one aim: ruin her plans. But God’s stronger than man. And this movie will sell in Jesus’ name!”

Priscilla added that her mother often fights battles for others both online and offline, yet receives silence when she needs support. She reminded fans of the huge crowd that showed up for the premiere, saying it proved Iyabo’s character and the love she commands in the industry. The young influencer urged Nigerians to focus on the bigger picture instead of twisting every story.

The Return of Arinzo hits cinemas nationwide today, April 3. NaijaChoice News understands the film is already generating massive interest despite the social media storm. Industry watchers say the drama has only increased curiosity about the sequel.

The episode once again highlights a familiar script in Nollywood: behind every headline lie real emotions, old friendships and the pressure of public opinion. As Priscilla noted, good hearts eventually win, and the real test will be at the box office.