The story of Nollywood filmmaker, Olajide Kazeem, better known as Seun Egbegbe, is one fit for a blockbuster movie. It is a story many movie lovers would expect him to tell in the future.

At the height of his fame, Egbegbe was the master. His words were law and he had the entire world in his palms, or so it seemed. He made the the best movie and the ladies swarm around him whenever he appears. His lovers in the industry included the high class and famous actresses.

Perhaps his most popular relationship was with actress Toyin Abraham. At the time, the two were big items at big social events as they cuddled to the admiration of others.

In the music industry, he also held sway. His parties are not complete without the top fuji musicians being on the band stand. And in the religious circle, he was a cheerful giver. His donations are known to be huge anytime he appears at a religious gathering.

With his deep pockets, Egbegbe managed Fuji artistes like Wale Ayinde Tekoma and Pasuma. His Films Productions company, Ebony bankrolled the production of several Yoruba films. And as a notable socialite, he lived large.

But a shocking incident in 2016 would bring down his entire world. His star dimmed just when it was brightest for him. On that fateful Tuesday, a mob at the Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos State, descended on Egbegbe and beat him to pulp for allegedly stealing nine iPhones at a shop in the area.

As the world of the incident spread, many doubted the story, with even more believing it must have been a case of mistaken identity. The reason for the doubt is understandable. The Seun Egbegbe that many know can afford to buy as many packs of Iphones as he may want.

But by the end pf the day, a better picture of the incident began to spread. The suspected phone thief was indeed Seun Egbegbe. He was said to have told policemen investigating the incident that he had no intention to steal the phones, but had stepped into his vehicle to pick some money when the sales boy raised the alarm.

According to report of the incident, Egbegbe had gone to the shop around 10am on the said day and had told the sales boy he met in the shop that he wanted to buy some iPhones. He was said to have left the shop with the phones, telling the seller that he wanted to pick money from his jeep.

He, however, reportedly attempted to leave in the waiting jeep without paying for the phones when the sales boy raised the alarm, drawing the attention of other traders in the area who stopped the vehicle and dragged Egbegbe out.

The unfortunate incident soon became a household song when musician Mr Real came out with his hit song, Legbegbe. And everywhere you went, it was Iphone Legbegbe.

Egbegbe was subsquently charged to court and was out on bail. But as one under a spell, he was again arrested for an alleged $12,000 (equivalent of N6.3m) fraud. The police alleged that he fraudulently obtained the money from no fewer than 40 Bureau De Change operators in Lagos over a period of two years – 2015 to 2017.

According to a police statement of the incident, “At about 1pm on Thursday, one Seun Karim, aka Egbegbe, and one Ayo Oyekan disguised as the MD of the Gbagada General Hospital and as a patient respectively. They lured one Alhaji Isa Adamu and Abdullahi Haruna, both bureau de change operators, from different locations that they needed $9000 and £3,000.

“The unsuspecting victims brought same to the suspects at the hospital and the suspects collected the said amount and attempted to escape with the money. The victims raised the alarm and subsequently, the suspects were arrested by policemen attached to the hospital.

“After the arrest of the suspected fraudsters, other bureau de change operators have been coming up with similar complaints against the suspects. The case is under investigation.”

From that point, it was a case of falling from frying pan into fire for Seun Egbegbe. He was taken to court on fresh charges. He would later be granted bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties. Each of them must prove that they are worth up to N2.5 million. One must be a civil servant, level 15 and another ordinary businessman with a C of O with a landed property.

For a man as generous as Seun Egbegbe, it was a huge surprise that no one offered him a helping hands in his darkest moments.

And because he could not meet his bail conditions, Seun Egbegbe, the cheerful giver, who once openly dated the most beautiful girls and attended the best social events was left to rot in jail for six years. He was abandoned by his colleagues & protégés alike.

His lawyer, Adebayo Onifade, once lamented that his client was abandoned by his friends and family for almost years.

Onifade said,‘‘We believe we have a very good defence. The only snag like I said yesterday in an interview, is that his friends and family appear to have abandoned him, else why will he be in custody when he has been granted bail over three years ago?”

For Egbegbe, it was lamentation all the way. In one of his sad moments on his way back to jail after a court hearing, he said: “I have the belief that God will set me free very soon, no matter what the devil does in my case, very soon, I will be out,” he said just as he was being whisked into a waiting vehicle by the prison officials.

But his prayers have finally been answered by God and he is a free man after six years.

Egbegbe was finally set  free on Wednesday by a Federal High court in Lagos, after after spending six years and eight months in prison custody.

Below is a flashback of the video of Seun Egbegbe’s lavish 40th birthday which was graced by many celebrities. Musician Pasuma was the headliner at the event.

Seun Egbegbe threw a lavish birthday party in Lagos it was graced by top personalities. Pasuma was the headliner at the event. #okikiap pic.twitter.com/5V6aXrIAxo

— Okiki App (@okiki_app) December 7, 2016