ONE ON ONE WITH VETERAN ACTOR AND CUSTOMS BROKER, EJIKE METUSELA
On Sunday, 18th of May, 2025, the Editor of The Prestige Blended Magazine online and Print, Mcanthony Udochukwu Onuoha, engaged Veteran Actor and Customs Broker, Ejike Metusela, in one on one interview, he had a robust time to talk about his absence from the maritime scene and possible come back, his attainment of a new academic feat, Customs management, and the demise of his good friend, Dr. Obicee Okonkwo.
Enjoy the excerpt:
TPM: It’s been a while Boss, where have you been all these while ?
(Laughter) As the witches would say, l have be to and fro. Just trying to be a better person. Life is all about trying to improve yourself every material time. I have been in and out of school. The University, the Law school, that was why l said in and out of school.
TPM : Alright Sir, l will allow that to slide, l remember it is over two years now we had an interface. And people have been asking me of your whereabouts
Yeah, staying away from public glare does not mean l have not been doing one or two things to take care of myself and family, and extend some love to friends and dependants, but when you are having a project that is capital intensive, you try as much as possible to cut down on your expenses and withdraw some commitments so as to keep afloat. Fortunately, l have been able to graduate as a law student, and also from the Nigeria Law school, so pursuing this goal and achieving it has been my utmost priority, and l return all the glory to God Almighty for His goodness and mercies over my life.
TPM: How were you juggling business and studies to ensure your sustainability ?
EM : You know that once you are in Law school, you must focus on your studies, and for that, will not have time for business activities. The Law school owns you for the period of one year. You don’t do any other thing but study. I was not doing anything throughout the time.
But all the while, l had my plan, and my family and loved ones were part of the plan. Every branch of me was involved in that decision to go back to school, and they were very supportive. Like l said, l was not involved in active business while in school, and will not until l am called to bar in few weeks time. My children are no longer kids, infact, they took care of me. We reversed the role because of my academic pursuit. (Laughter)
Though l have not been in the field for a while, but if l may say, in the practice of law, there is a special branch for maritime. When you use the word business, it’s all encompassing because it could offend some sensibilities. So, to that, l can say that l am still a property of the Nigeria Law School, because as long as you are a student you are under their care. So why l am trying to define the language of business is that going to law school is a business of its own, and being there, you must abide with the dos and don’ts. I have never been so disciplined, l can say that without equivocation. I am now a better person.
TPM: Do you intend taking up the practice or you just went their to upgrade your resumé ?
EM : Mcanthony, the answer to your question may not come as you expect, l am yet to be called to Bar, until after that time, then l will decide on what next to do. I will answer you that question in few weeks time. Till then, let’s keep it in view.
TPM: As a seasoned actor, and producer, what is your future plan for the industry?
EM : Everyone has a plan and a direction he is heading to, it all depends on the individual. Remember, we have maritime lawyers, we have copyright lawyers, when we talk of intellectual property. There is no way one person can specialize in all the branches of law, but you can form a collaboration with other lawyers. So l still have a lot to contribute to the movie industry, l can function as consultant in the nearest future.
TPM : Sir, as a maritime practitioner, what appraisals can you make of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR ?
EM: Well, the CGC, humble, seasoned, highly urbane and visionary Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR. In the first place, l did not make him the Comptroller General of Customs, so l do not expect him to meet my expectations of him. If you want to appoint someone into an office, you give him a brief of what you expect from him. But within the scope of the industry, and as a seasoned officer and gentleman he is, he has brought a lot of innovation. You know, many a time over here, we are very apathetic to changes. l described him as being urbane because he has a lot of information to run the affairs of the contemporary Customs Service, technological advancement that has reduced body contacts, the newly introduced B’Odogwu and other noble initiatives, he has enhanced productivity, and given practitioners the latitude to operate without much stress. So far, so good. And has not attracted any bad publicity.
TPM : Sir, you are the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Association of Registered Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (ARFFN), how is your association faring ?
EM : Like l said, going back to read law at my age has not been an easy task, though l have those older than me as course mates, despite the fact that l answer Metusela (laughter). In the law school l have a man that is about 80 years, and he is doing very well. They inspire me the more. So, coming to ARFFN where l am the Chairman, Board of Trustees, it has not been easy for the association, the membership of the association, and the society at large. But what do we do, we find a way to remain relevant no matter how tough the situation is . ARFFN is a very organized member of the maritime industry, people have their different ways of doing things. I remember in the course of emancipation of black Americans, we talk about Martin Luther King Jnr., we talk about Malcolm X, . Some of them believed that it would be tit for tat, but Martin Luther King Jnr., did not believe in tit for tat. ARFFN does not believe in heating up the polity unnecessarily, but you must also understand that in this our clime, if you do not make a noise, they will think that you are not relevant. But if you create problems and issues, they allow you to have your way because they do not want your trouble. ARFFN is very much around, we have our own issues as far as the industry is concerned, and we are not giving up, that is why we are there. As Chairman Board of Trustees, we have our issues. We are different individuals from different families. But what matters in all you do is to make your family have peace. ARFFN is very much around, but what l will not do for now is to disclose to you what we are doing to make sure we remain relevant. And we are still very relevant.
TPM: Recently, we got the news of the passing of your very close friend, Dr. Obicee Okonkwo, what do you have to say about his death?
EM: Anyone who hears about the demise of the hilarious, very urbane, and fashionista, Dr. Obicee Okonkwo, will be sober.
Many have been calling to say, “accept my condolences”, because of the relationship l had with him, he was my brother from another mother, many of them know our level of relationship. It is just that l have developed a thick skin against death. I am a fatalist, and once someone is dead, he is dead. If it is an emergency situation, one can run around for money or blood, but once it is death, there is nothing anyone can do about it. That is why we can not question God. In this case, the shock comes to you, but after a while, you come to terms with the reality of not going to see that person again, and you move on with your life until your own time comes, because death is inevitable. That is why l am somebody who does not believe in how long you lived, but what legacy did you leave behind. Obicee Okonkwo in the Maritime industry, was an enigma, l find it difficult to use a lesser word, but that was what he was. And that goes a long way to tell us about the ephemeral nature of man, today he is here, tomorrow he is no longer here. My brother’s wife told me that both of them had a chat on Friday, and Dr. Obicee was to come to their house the following morning being Saturday, but he died early morning Saturday. When l broke the news to the family, they could not believe it.
My immediate Elder Sister died last year, it was not as if she was sick and went to hospital. They called me and said “Sister Ezinma is dead”, that was around 7PM that night. So, as l told you, l have formed a thick skin against death. The passing of Dr. Obicee Okonkwo is a reality we all have to embrace since there is nothing we can do about it, but to pray God Almighty to grant his loved ones, friends and colleagues, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May he find solace in the bosom of the Lord.
TPM: As an integral part of Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria (ASIMPIN), what do you have to say about the leadership, any appraisal?
EM: I can tell you that as a member of ASIMPIN, l was there during the first election, but since l have not had that time lately to be an active member, l can not make any appraisal for now. But for the fact that the association is still alive and bigger than it was yesterday, is a big plus, and l give kudos to the leadership.
