Owambe Thieves
| Owambe Thieves | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Adeoluwa Owu |
| Written by | Adeoluwa Owu |
| Produced by | Eniola Ajao |
| Starring | Fathia Balogun
|
Release date |
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| Country | Nigeria |
Owambe Thieves is a 2025 Nigerian crime drama film produced by Eniola Ajao and directed by Adeoluwa Owu.[1][2] It tells the story of a young couple, Cheta and Lola, who struggle to make ends meet while raising their newborn child during one of the worst economic recessions in Nigeria’s history. The film stars Faithia Balogun, Hadiza Abubakar, Seilat Adebowale, Femi Branch, Odunlade Adekola, Bashirah Giwa and many others.[3]
Plot
Cheta and Lola (are a young struggling to provide for their newborn amid increasing hardship. After Cheta loses his job, they move in with Lola’s mother for shelter—but the atmosphere is tense and the support hard to come by.
Desperation mounts when they attend a lavish "owambe" party—an extravagant Yoruba celebration where guests often spray money in exuberance. At the event introducing a wealthy politician, Senator Taiwo, Cheta and Lola spot a momentary windfall: bills raining down from a money spray.
Succumbing to temptation, they pocket the cash—an impulsive decision that turns their world upside-down. From that point, they become infamously known as the “Owambe Thieves.” What begins as a bid for survival quickly spirals into a dangerous game of cat and mouse involving power plays, betrayal, and high-stakes consequences .
As their crime unfolds, the couple is pulled deeper into the criminal underworld, crossing paths with figures like Oga Bernard (Odunlade Adekola) and Oga Blings Blings (Femi Branch). Their choices ignite conflicts with powerful individuals—including the Senator himself—and they face a moral crossroads: fight to reclaim their lives or let circumstance define them
Cast
- Haziza Abubakar
- Odunlade Adekola as Oga Bernard[4]
- Fathia Balogun
- Femi Branch as Oga Blings Blings
- Eniola Ajao as Lola[4]
- Bashirah Giwa
- Zubby Michael as Cheta[4]
- Sola Sobowale as Madam Toke[4]
- Wumi Toriola as Tade[4]
- Akin Lewis as Senator Taiwo[4]
Premiere
The premiere of the film was held on Sunday, 13 April 2025, at Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos. It was released in all cinemas nationwide on 18 April and in selected cinemas in the UK from 9 May 2025.[5][6]
The premiere was graced by many Nollywood actors, who attended in traditional attire representing various cultures. K1 De Ultimate was one of the guest performers at the event.[7]
References
- ^ Adewoyin, Adeniyi (2025-04-18). "Celebs gather as Eniola Ajao premieres Owambe Thieves". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ "'Proper achalugo and her Odogwu paranran,' Eniola Ajao hypes new movie". Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ Abulude, Samuel (2025-04-13). "How We Co-produced Owambe Thieves – Ajao, Babarinsa". Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ a b c d e f Writer, Guest (2025-03-18). "Why 'Owambe Thieves' is a must-watch". TheCable Lifestyle. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ "Owambe Thieves - Nollywire". 2025-01-06. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ Nigeria, Guardian (2025-03-22). "Eniola Ajao's Owambe Thieves hits cinemas". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ^ Ajose, Kehinde (2025-04-18). "Nollywood stars light up 'Owambe Thieves' premiere". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2025-04-20.