Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Femi Branch, is in the eye of the storm over claims of assaulting a film crew member and refusing to pay a 13-year-old debt allegedly worth N9.7 million.

The drama started on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, when a viral statement from a production crew accused Branch of slapping the first Assistant Director (1st AD) during a movie shoot.

According to the statement, the actor assaulted the 1st AD in the presence of other cast and crew members and later apologised after the incident drew strong reactions.

The statement read in part, “On 18 June 2025, during a production shoot, an actor, Femi Branch, physically assaulted the first Assistant Director on set… He slapped the first AD in the presence of witnesses.”

In a trending video online, some crew members were seen stopping the actor from leaving the location. Branch, visibly angry, could be heard shouting, “Did you bring me on this set to embarrass me?”

While fans were still reacting to the video, a new allegation emerged online. A user on X (formerly Twitter), Pastor Timilehin, accused Branch of owing his father, Mr Tolulope Komolafe, the sum of N9.7 million from a loan taken in 2011.

Timilehin claimed Branch borrowed N1 million from his father with a monthly interest of N50,000 to fund his film, “Onile”, and has refused to pay since then.

In his words, “Dear @femibranch, you borrowed the sum of 1 million naira from Mr Akin Tolulope Komolafe (My Dad), since 2011, with interest of 50,000 per month.

“You have refused to pay to date. The accumulated sum is now 9.7 million. My dad helped you out when you needed it most. Now that everything has worked out for you, you have refused to pay him his money, despite all the efforts he has made to recover it.

“I just want to let you know one thing: you must pay that loan. If my dad fails to get it from you, I will get it from you or your children.”

He also shared what appeared to be a handwritten letter from Branch allegedly requesting the loan in December 2011.

As of press time, no legal action had been confirmed by either party, and the actor is yet to respond to the two allegations.