Since its official release on April 7, Gangs of Lagos has been a subject of controversy among the indigenous people of Lagos State with the Isale Eko Descendants Union claiming that the film depicted Isale Eko as a den of criminals and Eyo masquerade as a gang of murderers.
The descendants of Isale Eko had equally instituted a suit seeking N10 billion damages against Amazon and other producers over what they described as huge reputational damage the Gangs of Lagos inflicted on the Eyo brand.
In his letter copied the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Oba Akiolu claimed that the illegal representation of the Eyo has caused huge reputational damage to the Eyo brand by the defamatory movie which portrayed the brand as an instrument of terror, mayhem, and murder.
On the international stage, the monarch claimed that potential tourists and visitors to Lagos are likely to question the authenticity of the Eyo as a true cultural event deserving of respect and reverence.