Wale Adenuga Dismisses Actor Abiodun Ayoyinka’s Financial Hardship Claims as Misleading Following Public Franchise Dispute

Filmmaker Wale Adenuga responds to Abiodun Ayoyinka’s claims of being broke, citing the actor's 30-year civil service career and previous company support.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 6:17 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Vanguard News

Veteran Producer Rebuts Allegations of Financial Neglect and Career Stagnation

Wale Adenuga, the Chief Executive Officer of Wale Adenuga Productions, has issued a formal statement dismissing claims made by actor Abiodun Ayoyinka regarding his current economic status. Ayoyinka, widely recognized for his portrayal of the character Papa Ajasco, recently sparked significant public concern by alleging he was facing severe financial difficulties despite his long association with the famous sitcom. In a detailed response issued on Wednesday, Adenuga characterized these assertions as false and misleading, suggesting that the actor’s public narrative does not align with the professional and financial history shared between the two parties.

Franchise Protection Policies and Intellectual Property Constraints Clarified

Central to the dispute is the use of the "Papa Ajasco" brand for independent commercial ventures, which Adenuga maintains must be strictly regulated. The filmmaker explained that while Ayoyinka is a versatile performer, the specific character identity is a copyrighted asset created in 1976 that requires official approval for external brand associations. According to Adenuga, these policies are standard industry practice designed to protect the integrity and reputation of the franchise from inappropriate usage. He stressed that the production company has never barred the actor from taking on other performance roles, provided they do not infringe upon the intellectual property of the series.

Civil Service History and Long Term Financial Stability Highlighted

In an effort to provide context to the actor’s financial background, Adenuga revealed that Ayoyinka served as a civil servant with the Lagos State Government for over three decades. During this tenure, he was a prominent member of the state’s cultural troupe, a position that reportedly earned him recognition from high ranking political figures, including current national leadership. Adenuga noted that the production company frequently had to seek formal permission from the state government to have the actor on set, implying that Ayoyinka benefited from a stable, dual career path involving both a government salary and private acting fees.