Checkmate is a Nigerian television serial that ran from Thursday, April 4, 1991 to 1994, created by Amaka Igwe and sponsored by Lever Brothers Nigeria. It starred Ego Nnamani, Francis Agu, and Richard Mofe Damijo Set in Lagos, the story focuses on the Haatrope family, the enemies determined to destroy their business and legacy, and their friends and associates. Checkmate is seen in the show's opening credits, where a chess player's king is directly attacked by an opponent's pawn, making escape impossible. The show's opening and ending theme is Ron Goodwin's main theme for the 1964war film633 Squadron, and the main character Ann Haatrope is loosely based on Queen Amina of Zaria.
Plot
Ann Haatrope returns to Lagos from America with her brother Richie to discover the family's infrastructure and investment firm, Haatrope Investment, is on the brink of collapse due to older brother Benny's incompetence caused by alcoholism and sloth. Benny is also violent towards his wife, the equally nefarious Tonye who does not approve of her husband's siblings living under their roof, and is particularly horrid towards Nana Kofo, the elderly Ghanaian housekeeper who has served the family for years. With their father Richard Sr. critically ill back in America and Richie lacking experience, Ann is determined to restore the company's reputation and fight off competition from scheming rivals, most notably the unscrupulous Segun Kadiri who bears a long-time grudge towards the Haatropes. He blames them for his descent into childhood poverty following his mother's death, and has sworn vengeance. Ann's best friend, banker Ada Okereke is married to school teacher Nduka, but the couple face several problems including their class difference, Nduka's jealousy, and Ada's inability to conceive. Ada is later revealed to be an Osu which infuriates Nduka's mother who refuses to accept an 'untouchable' as her daughter-in-law, and is on a mission to break up the couple. Nkemji, an uncouth teenager from family friend Peace Fuji's village, is brought into her son's home as his new spouse but Nduka, who would later work for Haatrope Investment, has no interest in her as he loves his wife dearly. Nduka is also jealous of the friendship between his wife and her old boyfriend Kunle Ajayi, a Haatrope Investment employee who has unrequited love for Ann. Serial Chief Fuji, a board member at Haatrope Investment and close friend of Segun, is head of a dysfunctional family which consists of numerous children and his two warring wives Mama Moji and Peace. Fuji flaunts his status as a wealthy polygamist, but shuns his financial responsibilities towards his offspring to the chagrin of his spouses, mistresses, and girlfriends including the daughter of his machete-wielding tenant Alika. The situation is not helped when Fuji marries Ireti, a trainee caterer who comes under fire from the rest of the Fuji clan for her sophisticated cuisine which does not suit the family's simpler tastes. The hypocritical Fuji continues his womanising but remains a strict disciplinarian with his children who are forbidden from leaving the housewithout permission or dating. Monday Edem is a Unilag professor notorious for forcing his female students to perform sexual favors in exchange for their graduation, but denies the accusations when confronted. His long-suffering wife Eno continues to stand by him, but becomes increasingly frustrated. Their son Akpan, Richie's best friend since secondary school, is a student at the university who is also ashamed of his father's antics and tired of defending him. Akpan soon finds himself in the middle of a raging rivalry between the institution's two main secret cults after he takes an interest in Remi, the reluctant girlfriend of hot-headed gang member Banky. With both father and son facing the wrath of their enemies on campus, the Edem family's safety constantly comes under threat - his younger brother is stabbed, his sister nearly raped, and an altercation with Banky's gang nearly costs Akpan his eyesight. He later joins rival cult The Jets, and the arrival of a mystery relative believed to be the professor's secret daughter throws the Edems into further chaos.
