Exploitation is every creative’s nightmare and, sometimes, it sneaks up on even the most experienced professionals. This was the case for Rayo Akinsowon, founder and creative director of My Times Production, whose hopes for a long-term client relationship turned into a rather difficult situation.
In October, Akinsowon’s work caught the attention of Aguye Danladi Suleiman, the lawmaker representing Kogi Lokoja Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives.
Akinsowon, who is a visual content professional, was excited by not just the prospect of a promising partnership but also by how the lawmaker had spotted his quality.
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He said that those things made him determined to deliver his best at a heavily discounted rate. According to him, that would help to cement a lasting business relationship. He said he even travelled to Abuja to meet the lawmaker and finalise the deal.
“I didn’t know him from Adam,” Akinsowon told FIJ.
“He invited me to his office, and I made the trip to Abuja. He gave me some footage and asked me to create a documentary. I saw it as an opportunity to build something long-term, so I decided to charge him just N400,000. Normally, I’d charge in the millions for this type of project, but I was willing to cut my price for the sake of future opportunities.”
Eventually, the price was negotiated down to N300,000. But even as he agreed, Akinsowon recalled feeling uneasy: “I kept asking myself why I was beating down my price so much. But I convinced myself it was a good investment.”
“As a matter of fact, I was at the House of Assembly that particular day because I had to conduct an interview for him to cover all the bases as a professional, or what he has done more or less like a scorecard. So I did that. I left the House of Assembly I think 10:30 to 11:00 at night, that that particular day, and he released N100,000 to me”
N100,000 sent as part of the payment to Akinsowon
It’s said that regret weighs heavier when warnings go unheeded. For Akinsowon, those warnings came from friends who advised him against working with a politician under such informal arrangements. Still, he stuck to his belief, he does enjoy his job anyway.
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Akinsowon told FIJ that the project turned out to be far more demanding than expected. It was made worse by a series of personal and technical setbacks during that time frame. In the course of the work, critical footages were corrupted and he had to reshoot them. On top of that, Akinsowon lost his mother.
“It was one of the hardest periods of my life,” he said. “I even asked him for a small advance to travel for my mother’s burial, but he refused, saying I hadn’t finished the job.”
Despite the challenges, Akinsowon completed the documentary, ensuring it showcased the lawmaker’s legislative, educational and human capacity initiatives. Yet, instead of receiving payment, he was met with silence.
“I have spent over a month begging for my balance,” he said. “I have tried every tactic — pleading, appealing, explaining. I would call his assistant, his SLA, anyone I could reach, and they would make promises, but nothing would happen. Now, they have stopped responding altogether.”
Akinsowon admitted that the lack of a formal contract complicated matters. “I didn’t draft a written agreement because I believed in his word. But I have WhatsApp messages that clearly show our discussions and his commitments.”
“A professional colleague told me, ‘There’s no relationship where obligations aren’t fulfilled.’ He was right. I thought this was about professional integrity, but now it just feels like I’ve been used.”
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When FIJ contacted Suleiman on Tuesday, he promised to resolve the issue if Akinsowon called him the next morning. But, according to Akinsowon, similar promises had been made before, only to be broken.
“Oh, I know him now. He is my person. I may have lost his contacts. Please tell him to reach out to me tomorrow. Please. He is my person. Yes, I know him,” Suleiman had said in part.
When FIJ spoke with Akinsowon again on Wednesday, he said the lawmaker had yet to respond to his calls.
The post Kogi Lawmaker Danladi Suleiman Withholds Creative’s N200,000 Pay for One Month appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.