“How my South African partner defrauded me of $3.5m” – Ben Murray

• Ben Murray-Bruce, former senator and founder of Silverbird Group, claims a South African partner defrauded him of $3.5 million in a Kenyan cinema complex purchase attempt.

• Murray-Bruce made the revelation during the 4th Peace Anyiam-Osigwe (PAO) Nigeria Digital Content Regulation Conference in Victoria Island, Lagos.

• The man claimed that his South African partner registered the business in his own name after transferring the funds.

Former senator and founder of Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, has disclosed that he was defrauded of $3.5 million by a South African associate during an attempt to acquire a cinema complex in Kenya.

Murray-Bruce made this announcement on Thursday while addressing attendees at the 4th Peace Anyiam-Osigwe (PAO) Nigeria Digital Content Regulation Conference held in Victoria Island, Lagos.

He asserted that after he transferred the funds, his South African partner proceeded to register the business solely in his own name, effectively excluding Murray-Bruce from the investment.

“I was called to buy a cinema complex in Kenya for $3.5 million. I transferred the money, and my South African partner registered it in his name. That was how I lost that huge investment,” he said.

Additionally, Murray-Bruce mentioned that he is currently engaged in legal disputes concerning his studio in Los Angeles, which involves a well-known Hollywood actor.

Regarding his aspirations to rejuvenate Nigeria’s cinema sector, the former senator expressed his intention to enter the realm of movie production.

“The entertainment industry is a very successful one. In all the things I have done, I have never made one move about movie making but now, I will. I am working on a script and I know we will get it right. We will deal with fundamental issues,” he added.

Murray-Bruce also paid homage to the late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, sharing cherished memories of their relationship.

He reminisced about how Anyiam-Osigwe, whom he has known since childhood, would visit his home on a bicycle.

“Peace came to my house one day and asked me why I abandoned entertainment and became a politician. I have known her since she was six years old. She used to come to our house on her bicycle. Her brothers also used to come riding theirs,” he said.

The conference attracted several distinguished figures, including veteran actress Joke Silva, filmmaker Victor Okhai, QEDNG publisher Olumide Iyanda, filmmaker Mo Abudu, executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board Shaibu Husseini, Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, actress Wumi Toriola, film producer Kazeem Adeoti, and actor Segun Arinze.