Asaba, December 10, 2025 – Popular Nollywood filmmaker and outspoken social commentator Stanley Ajemba, better known as Stanley Ontop, was arrested and detained by the Delta State Police Command on Tuesday, December 9.
Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe confirmed the arrest to journalists, stating that Stanley was taken into custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Asaba following a formal petition filed by a female colleague in the entertainment industry. Details of the petition have not been officially disclosed, but multiple sources within Nollywood point to actress Queeneth Hilbert as the complainant.
The arrest stems from a long-running and highly public online feud between Stanley Ontop and Queeneth Hilbert that has played out across Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for much of 2025. What began as personal allegations quickly escalated into accusations of defamation, blackmail, and character assassination on both sides.
Stanley Ontop has built a reputation as one of Nollywood’s most fearless voices, regularly using his large social media following to expose alleged corruption within the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), human trafficking rings disguised as orphanages, and unethical practices among industry figures. His supporters describe him as a whistle-blower; his critics label him a reckless gossip who hides behind “activism” to settle personal scores.
Queeneth Hilbert, a well-known actress with credits in numerous Nollywood blockbusters, has been at the centre of several public disputes this year, most notably with colleague Destiny Etiko. Stanley Ontop had repeatedly weighed in on those controversies, making claims that many viewed as damaging to Hilbert’s reputation.
While the exact content of the petition remains sealed, those close to the case say it centres on alleged cyberbullying and defamatory statements made by Stanley Ontop across his various platforms. Under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, such offences can carry heavy fines or prison terms.
News of the arrest spread rapidly across social media, with reactions sharply divided. Many of Stanley’s followers launched the hashtag #FreeStanleyOntop, calling the detention an attempt to silence a truth-teller. Others celebrated it as justice finally catching up with someone they accuse of hiding behind a keyboard to destroy reputations.
Prominent blogger Miss Natural, a close associate of Stanley, posted an emotional appeal urging Queeneth Hilbert and the Delta State Police to release him, describing the situation as “deeply frustrating” amid the country’s many challenges.
As of Wednesday evening, Stanley Ontop remains in custody at the SCID Asaba. Police say investigations are ongoing and have appealed for calm while the matter is handled according to the law.
Neither Queeneth Hilbert nor her representatives have issued an official statement, though some of her fans have openly praised the move in comment sections, with one writing, “If she really petitioned him, then she has done well for all of us that he has insulted.”
The Actors Guild of Nigeria has not commented on the development, but industry insiders say the case has further exposed the deep divisions and unresolved tensions that continue to plague Nollywood’s public image.
For now, one of the industry’s loudest voices has been silenced — at least temporarily — inside a police cell in Asaba. Whether this marks the end of a bitter chapter or the beginning of an even messier one remains to be seen.
