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Nollywood actress addresses long-standing breach, warning commercial brand to cease promotional campaigns four years after agreement ended.
Veteran Nollywood actress and film producer Mercy Johnson-Okojie has publicly called out a prominent commercial brand for allegedly using her image and likeness for promotional purposes without authorization, four years after their official endorsement contract expired.
In a formal statement released across her verified social media handles, the award-winning movie star expressed frustration over what she described as persistent intellectual property infringement and corporate exploitation.
Actress Addresses Expired Endorsement and Legal Boundaries
According to Johnson-Okojie, her commercial representation agreement with the brand officially ended four years ago, with all contractual obligations successfully completed at the time.
However, the actress revealed that the company has continued to utilize billboard advertisements, digital marketing materials, and promotional banners featuring her image across various retail channels without extending the contract or securing fresh consent.
“My contract with this brand ended four years ago,” the actress stated. “Despite repeated private warnings and official notifications from my legal team, they have continued to run advertisements using my face and brand to profit. This is unauthorized and unacceptable.”
She noted that while she maintained patience over the years to allow the brand to phase out old marketing assets, the continued active deployment of new campaigns using her image forced her to bring the matter to the public domain.
Protecting Intellectual Property and Celebrity Image Rights
The public statement marks a growing trend among African entertainment figures demanding stricter adherence to intellectual property laws and commercial endorsement boundaries.
Legal experts and talent managers have frequently highlighted the challenges celebrities face regarding image rights exploitation, where commercial entities continue capitalizing on high-profile brand associations long after legal contracts expire.
Johnson-Okojie’s legal team has reportedly issued a final cease-and-desist demand to the company, indicating that failure to comply immediately will result in formal civil court proceedings and financial damages claims.
The actress’s statement has generated strong support from fellow actors, creative industry colleagues, and fans, who have called for corporate accountability and stricter enforcement of image copyright across Nigeria’s corporate sector.
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Award-winning Nollywood...
