tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91977017879008641372024-03-06T00:35:00.381+01:00COSON TVTHE COSON BLOGSITE... Join in the conversationCOPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-70742574737025395792018-06-12T16:22:00.002+01:002018-06-12T16:22:48.136+01:00NIGERIAN DEEJAYS STORM COSON HOUSE TO COMMISERATE OVER RAS KIMONO<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A high-powered delegation
of the Deejays Association of Nigeria (DJAN) led by its Vice – President, Christian
Edeh (DJ Perfect) on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 paid a condolence visit to COSON
House, located in Ikeja.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Deejays who signed
the condolence register to honour the rub – a – dub master Ras Kimono, a member
of the board of COSON who passed on in Lagos last Sunday June 10, 2018, expressed
shock over the sudden demise of the iconic reggae star Ras Kimono whom they described
as a legend in the music industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Receiving them the Chairman
of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji thanked them for their concern and requested that
they all be ready to participate in what should be a fantastic burial
arrangement being worked out between the Kimono family and COSON to celebrate in
a special way a wonderful Nigerian artiste loved by millions across the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the team that received
the DJAN members from different states of Nigeria were COSON directors, Richard
Cole, Engr Sharon Essco Wilson, General Manager, Chinedu Chukwuji, and other
members of the management such as COSON Head of Finance and Administration, Bernice
Eriemeghe, COSON Head of Corporate Affairs, Chibueze Okereke and COSON Head of
New Media, Tolu Balogun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The DJAN team also took
time to inspect the magnificent COSON House and expressed their excitement that
such an edifice is now a reality in the Nigerian entertainment industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Other Deejays present
were Ajayi Sunny (DJ Sunny Ice) from Edo, Ogungbuyi Taiwo (DJ Teazer) from
Taraba, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses Ukamasin (DJ Pastor) from
Kaduna, Joseph Ameh (DJ Cedar) from Benue, Benni Emmanuel Guful (DJ BennyG) from
Jos and DJ Vicky Lee from Imo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-60478027681476537842018-05-04T19:27:00.002+01:002018-05-04T19:32:43.139+01:00PUBLIC STATEMENT: COPYRIGHT COMMISSION STAFF ASK DG EZEKUDE TO IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW THE LETTER PURPORTEDLY SUSPENDING THE APPROVAL OF COSON AND TO RESIGN<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 6px;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>PUBLIC STATEMENT</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>COPYRIGHT COMMISSION STAFF ASK DG EZEKUDE TO IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW THE LETTER PURPORTEDLY SUSPENDING THE APPROVAL OF COSON AND TO RESIGN</b></span></div>
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The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) Unit, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), has called for the immediate withdrawal of a letter dated 30th April, 2018 with reference No. NCC/DG/132/I/73 signed by the DG Mr. Ezekude, purportedly suspending the approval of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) to act as collective management organization. The ASCSN, NCC Unit has also warned Mr. Ezekude to immediately desist from his brazen attempt to foist a new leadership on COSON.</div>
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In a public notice jointly signed by the Chairman, Com. Ihuma Okwu Moses and Secretary, Com Kunle Olatunji, the association said that it frowns at the fact that at no time were such weighty issues and policy decisions discussed or agreed by the management and circular issued to that effect before Mr. Ezekude issued such a provoking letter. The Association considers the suspension of COSON approval as representing the personal foible of Mr. Ezekude and not the policy of the Commission.</div>
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The association asked Mr. Ezekude to resign so as to allow the NCC play the role of an umpire in its regulatory function in Copyright<br />
matters.</div>
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The full text of the public notice is reproduced is hereunder:</div>
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The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) Unit, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), has called for the immediate withdrawal of a letter dated 30th April, 2018 with reference No. NCC/DG/132/I/73 signed by the DG Mr. Ezekude, purportedly suspending the approval of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) to act as collective management organization. The ASCSN, NCC Unit warns Mr. Ezekude to immediately desist from his brazen attempt to foist a new leadership in COSON.</div>
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Election of the Board member/leadership of COSON is guided and regulated solely by the Articles of Association which is purely regulated by Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and not Copyright Act or Copyright (Collective Management Organization) Regulation. This fact which is an elementary principle of company law, we believe should be well understood by Mr. Ezekude the DG, Mr. Mike Akpan the Director Regulatory Department/Special Adviser to the DG and Mr. Obi Ezeilo, Head Lagos Office/NCC representative in COSON meetings.</div>
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The fact that COSON is a collective management organization does not take the legal personality of COSON as a company Ltd/Gte hence the election of the Board members as well as the operative law regulating the internal affairs of COSON is and still remains the prerogative of CAMA. Any infraction, breach or abuse in the election, composition and management of a company Ltd/Gte such as COSON can only be legitimately challenge at the Federal High Court which has jurisdiction over all matters bothering on CAMA.</div>
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The Nigeria Copyright Commission charge with the responsibility of administering and enforcing copyright matters in Nigeria and which incidentally is the regulating Agency for all Collecting Management Organizations including COSON can only regulate COSON only to the extent of collective management rights such as granting of license, collection of royalties, distribution of royalties etc and not regulating the operation of COSON as it relates to proceedings provided in Articles of Association under CAMA.</div>
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It could be recalled that COSON has been under the leadership of Chief Tony Okoroji as the Board Chairman for over seven (7) years now until December 7, 2017 when some Board members of COSON purported removed Chief Tony Okoroji and replaced him with Mr. Efe Omorogbe.</div>
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On December 19, 2017, the extra-ordinary general Assembly in its unanimous decision of the member removed Efe Omorogbe as a Board member/purported Chairman and reinstated Chief Tony Okoroji as the Chairman. The resolution removing Efe Omorogbe as a Board member/Chairman also removed over five (5) Board members of COSON and mandate the remaining five (5) Board members with Chief Tony Okoroji to replace the six (6) Board members removed pending the General Assembly schedule to hold later in May this year.</div>
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It could be recalled that the powers of the General Assembly/Extra-ordinary General Assembly is derived from Section of the COSON Bye-laws hence the business of COSON in the extra-ordinary General Assembly Congress is legitimate and binding on COSON.</div>
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It does not lie in the mouth of DG, Mr. Ezekude to declare the legitimate proceedings of COSON’s General Assembly irregular and illegitimate. The only legitimate authority of the Federal Government of Nigeria that can validly challenge the proceedings of COSON, a company Ltd/Gte is the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Federal High Court of Nigeria exercising its judicial powers.</div>
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To this extent, the action of the DG, Mr. Ezekude’s brazen and blatant refusal to abide by the resolution of the extra-ordinary General Assembly of COSON without any order of court is a flagrant abuse of process and undue arrogation of powers contrary to the extent laws and regulations within the copyright laws.</div>
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It is trite law and elementary principle of law that the status quo ante bellum is the original position before the occurrence of certain events. Flowing from the above, and given the above scenario which to the Association does not pose any legitimate dispute within COSON and granted but not conceding that there is, the status quo ante bellum remains the position of COSON before the events of 7th and 19th December, 2017 with Chief Tony Okoroji as COSON’s Substantive Chairman. This is a well established law in the Nigeria Jurisprudence and the contrary decision of the DG, Mr. Mike Akpan and Mr. Ezeilo recognizing Mr. Efe Omorogbe particularly in the letter reference No NCC/DG/050/11/348, last paragraph on page 2, is not only an indictment to the DG but as well a condemnable act which the Association will not hesitate to disassociate itself from such decision particularly as it does not represent the NCC management decision but the whims and caprices of Mr. Ezekude and his cronies Mr. Mike Akpan and Mr. Ezeilo who undoubtedly have their personal interest in the matter.</div>
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The association hereby reaffirm their position clearly that all the steps taken against COSON since January, 2018 without due recourse to any management decision of Nigeria Copyright Commission is abhorred.</div>
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The draconian directive as well as the letter written to the IGP to review their investigation already concluded on a matter and already charge to court even when NCC is not a party to the proceeding in criminal charge No. A/29/2018 COP Vs Efe Omorogbe is not only an abuse of office but also goes along way to demonstrate that Mr. Ezekude has descended into the arena of interested party and no longer an umpire as the Regulation capacity.</div>
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On this note Mr. Ezekude should voluntarily resign as the DG to allow NCC play the role of an umpire and its regulatory function in Copyright matters.</div>
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Furthermore, Mr. Ezekude in page 3 paragraph 3 of the letter under immediate reference stated that “a suit seeking among others, a declaration that Mr. Efe Omorogbe is not the Chairman of the Board of COSON, a matter which is still pending at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Division and await determination” Despite the knowledge of Mr. Ezekude of the pending suit as well as his knowledge of the elementary principles of law regarding sub-judice is not only pre-empting the decision of the court(s) but as well taken steps that are contemptuous of court proceedings. On this note again, the Association disassociate itself from such scandalous conduct which drags the integrity of the Commission, Management staff and our noble Associations members into disrepute.</div>
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Our concern giving rise to this publication is precipitated from a similar occurrence by the management against Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MSCN) in 2010 where the Commission was sued and damages in the sum of over forty Million was awarded against the Commission thereby depriving staff of their legitimate salaries in November and December, 2010.</div>
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The Association also considers the letter purportedly suspending the approval of COSON as a huge betrayal by Mr. Ezekude who had in a recent meeting held with the association representative after his press briefing, assured the Association that such draconian decision will not be made.</div>
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In the above reference meeting with the DG by the Association, the DG mentioned the blatant refusal of the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria to comply with the Commission directive which bothers on proper documentation that will enable the Commission to properly regulate them (even when their approval was in gross violation of section 39 (3) of the Copyright Act) since 2017, yet no sanction as been issued to them let alone suspension of the approval. Why now COSON?</div>
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Nevertheless, COSON which indisputably is the pride of the Commission, Nigeria and Africa and also an institution that has attained global excellence in Copyright Collective Administration is been witch hunted to this extent over no justifiable issue is clearly an affront on the copyright industry in Nigeria. The Association will not fold its hands and allow Mr. Ezekude destroy the institution for the career officers in the sector. On this note, we refuse to identify with Mr. Ezekude’s wanton destruction of the copyright industry.</div>
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The Association frowns at the fact that at no time were such weighty issue and policy decision discussed or agreed by the management and circular issued to that effect before Mr. Ezekude issued such a provoking letter. The Association considers the suspension of COSON approval as representing the personal foible of Mr. Ezekude and not the policy of the Commission.</div>
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The Association considers the Suspension of COSON’s approval to operate as a collecting society and also Mr. Ezekude directive to continue to meet the personal cost from the funds of creator of works as a contradiction. This directive is not only injurious but to further deepen the seeming crisis in COSON when creators funds is used to meet the personal cost without corresponding services that will generate income for COSON.</div>
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The Association also wonders if the Commission after suspending COSON’s operating license to function as collective Management organization could still regulate the organization by demanding for the statement of account within seven (7) days of receipt of the letter of suspension.</div>
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The Association finds it’s more curious that Mr. Ezekude has not considered the concomitant effect of the suspension of COSON approval vis-à-vis the unhindered access given to the users of the works of the thousands of COSON members and affiliates within and outside the country haven being authorized by the suspension of approval to use private property of individual free of charge. What an outrage!</div>
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The Association is now convinced that Mr. Ezekude has all the time personally involved in engineering and precipitating the crises in COSON, so as to destroy the nation’s most successful organization in the copyright sector.</div>
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While the Association wishes to assure all members and affiliates of COSON and all genuine creative people in Nigeria that the senior staff of NCC stands with them; the Association once again calls for the immediate sacking of Mr. Ezekude as the DG of NCC as the entire staff of NCC has totally lost confidence in his leadership.</div>
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The Association is hereby calling on all well meaning Nigerian who either have a stake in the creative industry or lovers of the creative industry to join forces with the Association in calling for the removal of Mr. Ezekude to pave way for the growth of the regulatory agency and thereby guaranteeing better protection of the copyright industry in Nigeria.<br />
For and behalf of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) Unit.</div>
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_________________________ ________________________<br />
COM. IHUMA OKWU MOSES COM. KUNLE OLATUNJI<br />
Unit Chairman Unit Secretary</div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-19039243884251570222018-05-03T18:52:00.000+01:002018-05-03T18:52:12.607+01:00COSON LAWYERS FORCEFULLY CHALLENGE NCC DIRECTIVES AT THE COURT OF APPEAL<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCu_F2bAdd2Zq7I9GowzsYoXT46Zl1c6NQ_ffj4KaNHH6MzFjUa5ZLXuQl6Rwgb9vtDRGrkvifNuv7p_rf0qCHUStusVjm43yHX-DZJ2L2uz8-gG8t4zyHvkyhypWP-rx1hBAbTWMPKw/s1600/COSON+artwork.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCu_F2bAdd2Zq7I9GowzsYoXT46Zl1c6NQ_ffj4KaNHH6MzFjUa5ZLXuQl6Rwgb9vtDRGrkvifNuv7p_rf0qCHUStusVjm43yHX-DZJ2L2uz8-gG8t4zyHvkyhypWP-rx1hBAbTWMPKw/s640/COSON+artwork.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">PUBLIC STATEMENT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">COSON LAWYERS FORCEFULLY CHALLENGE NCC
DIRECTIVES AT THE COURT OF APPEAL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lawyers to
Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) have swiftly filed a new process at the
Court of Appeal, Lagos Division challenging the content of the letters from the
Nigerian Copyright Commission purportedly suspending the copyright licensing
activities of the society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Alliance Law
Firm headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Uche Val Obi filed the process
within 24 hours of the receipt of the letters from the NCC. COSON has urged the
Court of Appeal to make suspensory or dispositive mandatory orders against the
NCC’s directives, pending the determination of the pending appeal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In a letter dated
May 3, 2018 to the NCC Director-General, Mr. Afam Ezekude, the COSON lawyers
stated that the development at the Court of Appeal lawfully apprehends the NCC directives
suspending the licence of COSCON to operate as a royalty collecting
organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The full text of
the letter to Mr. Ezekude reads as follows;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We remain counsel
to Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and continue to act on its
instructions. The captioned letters, emanating from your offices have been
passed over to us by COSON, with instructions to respond to the same as
permitted by law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Recall that in
our letter dated 16<sup>th</sup> April, 2018 and sent to you, via email, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ezekude@aol.com</i>, on 19<sup>th</sup>
April, 2018 and the hard copy received in your office on the 25<sup>th</sup>
April, 2018, you were reminded of the pending Motion on notice for injunction
pending the determination of Appeal at the Court of Appeal, seeking a number of
injunctive reliefs against your Commission, particularly, the prayer seeking to
restrain your Commission from acting in a manner that could embarrass the Court
of Appeal, alter the res, or otherwise overreaching and advising you against
acting in any manner that is capable of foisting a situation of complete
helplessness and fiat accompli on the Court of Appeal, prior to the hearing and
determination of that Motion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are shocked to
read that in spite of our guided advice, you led your Commission to act with
gross impunity against the Court of Appeal, when, according to your captioned
letters, you purportedly, on the advice of the Attorney General of the
Federation of Nigeria, suspended the operating licence of COSON, while the
Motion for Injunction, restraining your Commission from embarking on the same
act is still pending at the Court of Appeal. Could it be that the authorities
of Ojukwu V. Governor of Lagos State, as well as Iwuji V. Governor of Imo
State, recommended to you in our said letter of 16<sup>th</sup> April, 2018
were of no consequence to you? Your act is even more worrisome when you
attributed the impetus to so act to the approval of the Chief Law Officer of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Honourable Attorney General of the
Federation (HAGF), who is the Constitutional custodian of rule of law in
Nigeria. We wonder if you had indeed placed the full facts of this matter
before the HAGF in the first instance as it is doubtful that he would have
advised or supported your aforesaid acts and directives, given the
circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It might interest
you to recall that the reign of executive lawlessness and disregard for the
rule of law has since been consigned to our ugly past as a nation and we
consider it a reminder of that ugly and unfortunate past for any agency of
government to invoke or perpetrate any act, like your present act, which has a
semblance of that forbidden ugly past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have, on
behalf of COSON, a law abiding citizen, therefore filed another process at the
Court of Appeal, challenging the content of the two letters captioned above and
urging that Court to make suspensory or dispositive mandatory orders against
your Commission’s directives against COSON, pending the determination of the
pending appeal. This development therefore lawfully apprehends your<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>directives suspending the licence of COSON as
a royalty collecting organization and stopping it from operating<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>its bank accounts as a going concern, amongst
others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It remains to
remind you that it is an established principle of law that a citizen lawfully
challenging an act or directive of an institution against it in a court of law
in exercise of its constitutional rights cannot be expected to comply or obey
directives, issued in the course of a pending proceeding and while a motion
specifically seeking to restrain such directives is pending. Consequently,
COSON has been legally advised that it is not bound in law to give effect to
your directives but to await the decisions of the Court of Appeal on the
pending applications for mandatory and interlocutory injunctions pending before
it in relation to your acts, pronouncements, order and directives, as to do
otherwise would be to sacrifice its constitutional rights on the alter of your
directives, acts, and orders which constitute an affront<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and disrespect to the honourable Court of
Appeal now seized with the subject matter, more so, as the appeal has already
been entered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Having stated the
above, it is our candid suggestion that a high level meeting of representatives
of concerned parties to the matter be held as early as possible to explore an
amicable resolution of the issues relating to this subject matter in the
interest of all stakeholders. If this is acceptable, kindly let us know how
early we can have a kick off meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Please be guided
accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yours Faithfully,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Alliance Law Firm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Isaac
U. Obi, FIMC<span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span>Fred
Obiejesi<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Partner<span style="mso-tab-count: 8;"> </span>Senior
Associate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cc: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hon.
Attorney General & Minister For Justice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ministry
of Justice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Abuja<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cc: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Copyright
Society of Nigeria (COSON)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>COSON
House<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>41,
Oluwaleimu Street, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Off
Allen Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ikeja,
Lagos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cc:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Chairman, Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No. 5, Fomella
Street<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Off Adetokumbo
Ademola Crescent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wuse II, Abuja <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-66049600192101138992018-04-26T15:08:00.000+01:002018-04-26T15:08:57.918+01:00PRESS STATEMENT ON WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY, OKOROJI CALLS FOR A NEW NIGERIA DRIVEN BY CREATIVITY AND KNOWLEDGE<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7Jmw9bsf2jYkqTc7BBktihfeuNXZKBu9NTTKbUqIPiHbpSqALa9o40yvq9IjUNkTY3XoVCgFjXY9Vz3Nd7aYJasUnRS0-yfkjIdCltXy_RfKTCgSgofZEuX2D77XGRCjcEWCrWBttn0/s1600/Tony-Okoroji-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7Jmw9bsf2jYkqTc7BBktihfeuNXZKBu9NTTKbUqIPiHbpSqALa9o40yvq9IjUNkTY3XoVCgFjXY9Vz3Nd7aYJasUnRS0-yfkjIdCltXy_RfKTCgSgofZEuX2D77XGRCjcEWCrWBttn0/s640/Tony-Okoroji-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">PRESS STATEMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">ON WORLD
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY, OKOROJI CALLS FOR A NEW NIGERIA DRIVEN BY CREATIVITY
AND KNOWLEDGE</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chairman,
Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Africa’s fastest growing copyright
collective management organization, has in a public statement to mark the World
Intellectual Property Day, 2018, called for a new Nigeria driven by creativity
and knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In his statement,
Chief Okoroji who is one of Africa’s most acclaimed intellectual property
activists, said, “Everywhere you go, the ingenuity of the Nigerian people is on
display. Our music, movies, literature, fashion, programming and similar
products of the creative endeavour are in substantial demand across the world.
In the creative industry, Nigeria has significant comparative advantage. We
only need a spark to light the fire. It is our belief that If we properly
manage this gift the Almighty has given to us, the result will confound the
world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to
Okoroji, ‘‘As we mark ‘‘World Intellectual Property Day” with the theme ‘‘Powering
Change: Women in innovation and creativity’’, we once again ask for a new
Nigeria in which the people of wealth and influence are no longer those who
have brazenly stolen the people’s patrimony. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We ask for a
Nigeria driven by knowledge and creativity. We demand a nation where a creative
songwriter can depend on his creativity and live well; a good performer does
not have to worry about how to feed his family; a talented filmmaker or actor
will not be burdened by where his next rent will come from; a gifted author can
become a millionaire and does not have to sweat at the thought of his
children’s school fees and a fashion designer with unique talent can be
celebrated for his or her creativity. We ask for a Nigeria in which a great
photographer can be a man of means; an architect does not also have to be a
builder to earn commensurate income from his talent; an inventor can live off
his invention and a creator of content can thrive from the deployment of his
content. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We earnestly ask
for a Nigeria in which a lecturer is no longer ashamed to say that he teaches
for a living. In other words, we demand a nation in which knowledge and
creativity are celebrated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The former
President of PMAN who has recently led demonstrations against institutions and
officials of the Federal Government over legal issues bordering on intellectual
property, has requested the government to stop hounding those who have
committed their lives to the upholding of the laws that further the environment
for the growth of intellectual property in Nigeria and to see people like him as
patriots and not subversives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to
Chief Okoroji, the author of Copyright & the New Millionaires, “We request
that the energy that has been deployed by officials of the government to subvert
and destabilize COSON which despite all odds has been a major Nigerian success
story and an example of what is possible in our country, should be deployed in
ensuring that other institutions in other areas of intellectual property are
improved and strengthened for the good of our nation”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He gave kudos to
Nigerian women in the creative industry whom he said continue to succeed
regardless of a very unsupportive environment. Chief Okoroji said that in
recognition of the strides made by Nigerian women in the creative industry, COSON
recently put three Nigerian women on its board instead of the lone woman that
used to be on the board. He said that it is in the same way that of the six
heads of departments at COSON, three are women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-66093646651713017662018-03-21T08:57:00.000+01:002018-03-21T08:57:35.164+01:00MUSIC INDUSTRY ICON, CHRIS AJILO, CALLS ON FG TO AWARD COSON CHAIRMAN, CHIEF TONY OKOROJI, ONE OF NIGERIA’S HIGHEST HONOURS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZgqDu5_KF5-YQeN6vS0baajPjnQDn07_dGY-7KNsxbfIxm3bzm3kxq08PDQtjj2tYMWaY9IEGLbWF95Rukyf9oBlAjJ4uKPQsrEDPh0wVrMFbH4nknGzVNBoM9gevPRotMVNPJXzsaA/s1600/chris+ajilo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZgqDu5_KF5-YQeN6vS0baajPjnQDn07_dGY-7KNsxbfIxm3bzm3kxq08PDQtjj2tYMWaY9IEGLbWF95Rukyf9oBlAjJ4uKPQsrEDPh0wVrMFbH4nknGzVNBoM9gevPRotMVNPJXzsaA/s640/chris+ajilo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #26282a; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;">MUSIC INDUSTRY ICON, CHRIS AJILO, CALLS ON FG TO AWARD COSON CHAIRMAN, CHIEF TONY OKOROJI, ONE OF NIGERIA’S HIGHEST HONOURS</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #26282a; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;">88 years old Chris Ajilo, one of the oldest living professional musicians in Nigeria and a pioneer musicologist, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to award COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, one of the nation’s most significant honours for his exemplary service to Nigeria.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #26282a; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Pa Chris Ajilo, as he is fondly called, was General Manager of Performing & Mechanical Rights Society (PMRS), one of the key organisations that provided the platform for the formation of COSON. In a public statement he just issued, he said that he is aware of the huge sacrifice and self-denial it takes to build a successful organization with no government funds especially in the very unstable creative industry in Nigeria.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #26282a; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;">According to Ajilo, “For several decades I have watched Chief Tony Okoroji commit himself totally to the promotion and defence of the rights of musicians and other creative people in Nigeria with unequalled personal sacrifice and results that are very visible to everyone. Those of us in the music industry cannot be thankless people. Rather than persecute him, every well-meaning stakeholder in the music industry should join me in calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to award Chief Tony Okoroji one of the nation’s most significant honours for his exemplary service to our country”.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #26282a; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;">In his statement, Pa Ajilo wrote, “By December 26, 2018, I will be 89 years old. I am one of the oldest living professional musicians in Nigeria and a pioneer musicologist. I worked for several years at Polygram as staff producer and thereafter consulted for Polygram and Premier Records Limited before assuming the role of pioneer General Manager of PMRS, a job I did for over two years without any pay. What I have learnt is that to successfully build an organization like PMAN, PMRS or COSON in which large numbers of creative people are brought together, you have to have the calling for what is essentially a thankless job.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #26282a; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;">“In November 2017, I travelled to Lagos from my home town, Ijebu Jesha, in Osun State. At Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, I was honoured with a special award in a spectacular ceremony of the COSON Song Awards very professionally coordinated and produced by Chief Tony Okoroji and the COSON Management which made my trip to Lagos possible. Before that, I was present at the opening of the very beautiful COSON House, a magnificent structure belonging to the musicians of Nigeria built without borrowing a kobo by the unique leadership of Chief Okoroji.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #26282a; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;">“You can imagine my anger when last December, a few weeks after my return from Lagos, I learnt that one Efe Omorogbe had schemed with some others to kick out Chief Okoroji as Chairman of COSON and that Omorogbe was parading himself as Chairman of COSON and coordinating a broad media campaign to tarnish Chief Okoroji’s good name. This is a repeat of the PMAN experience”.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #26282a; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;">In conclusion of his public statement, Chris Ajilo, composer of the iconic song, ‘Eko Gbagbere’ used to celebrate Lagos, wrote, “I wish to place on record the fact that I condemn in no uncertain terms the attempt to foist Efe Omorogbe on COSON as Chairman. I commend the members of COSON who met in Lagos on December 19, 2017 for doing the right thing and restoring Chief Tony Okoroji as Chairman of COSON. I consider it an insult for anyone to seek to impose a leader on COSON. I call on the Nigerian Copyright Commission to draw a line between regulating the collective management activities of COSON and the attempt to control the internal affairs of the society which is not an appendage of the NCC. Led by the same Chief Okoroji, we fought for the setting up of the NCC to serve our industry and not to be lord and master over us. If they so badly want a job for Mr. Omorogbe, let them find him employment at the NCC”.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #26282a; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Watch EKO - by Chris Ajilo ft Banky W and Korede Sax</span></div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-41041387299048206442018-03-08T17:02:00.001+01:002018-03-08T17:02:49.973+01:00MORE LEGAL WAHALA FOR EFE OMOROGBE AS COSON CHAIRMAN, OKOROJI, SLAMS N212 MILLION LIBEL SUIT AGAINST HIM.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNvX6Ms1oTcKCsrCMhu0hOp6SV3dPhNoFq31KqhNUHUM0EXu9I5i6ByoijNsk2FYQTSQyOMFOM_HQ6EDIGJA_Pv6Z8LhUEqE_ctptEkborocfn4v9To0aCeSX-UgM4Mj619iIcwO43DI/s1600/Chief-Tony-Okoroji-pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="428" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNvX6Ms1oTcKCsrCMhu0hOp6SV3dPhNoFq31KqhNUHUM0EXu9I5i6ByoijNsk2FYQTSQyOMFOM_HQ6EDIGJA_Pv6Z8LhUEqE_ctptEkborocfn4v9To0aCeSX-UgM4Mj619iIcwO43DI/s640/Chief-Tony-Okoroji-pix.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">MORE LEGAL WAHALA FOR EFE OMOROGBE AS COSON CHAIRMAN, OKOROJI, SLAMS N212 MILLION LIBEL SUIT AGAINST HIM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">True to an earlier statement issued on his behalf, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji has filed a suit at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja asking for the sum of Two Hundred and Twelve Million Naira for libel against embattled former member of the COSON Board, Mr. Efe Omorogbe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The suit supported by a 29 paragraph Statement of Claim, se<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">veral exhibits and witnesses was filed on behalf of Chief Okoroji by Tochukwu Tagbo and Christian Eneje of the Lagos law firm of Commercial Practice Solicitors</span></span></div>
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In the Statement of Claim, Chief Okoroji pleaded that on January 16, 2018, Mr Omorogbe organised a major press conference at Protea Hotel, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, which was attended by numerous representatives of the press, widely reported in newspapers and magazines across the country, viewed by millions of people on television and on the internet across the world and that at the conference, Mr. Omorogbe made several defamatory statements against him.</div>
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Chief Okoroji also pleaded that Mr Omorogbe caused to be published in City People Magazine dated 31st January 2018, further words defamatory of him and that indeed, Omorogbe further caused to be published in Vanguard Newspaper dated 20th January 2018 other words and statements defamatory of him and that Mr. Omorogbe took active steps to ensure that his devastating words against the Claimant (Chief Okoroji) were widely published, broadcast, posted on several websites on the internet and republished in the press with the intention of doing the most horrendous damage to Chief Okoroji’s good name, character and reputation.</div>
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Chief Okoroji also pleaded in the Statement of Claim that in widely publishing the words and statements complained of in the suit, Mr. Omorogbe was actuated by blatant malice as he knew very well that his words and statements are patently false as Omorogbe very well knows that the Claimant is a man of impeccable character and honour and an outstanding Nigerian and that Omorogbe in publishing and/or causing to be published the sordid and reckless words was motivated by the naked desire to destroy the Claimant and usurp the Claimant’s position.</div>
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Apart from the damages and cost asked for, Chief Okoroji has also asked for an injunction restraining Efe Omorogbe, his servants or agents or otherwise, from further publishing or broadcasting, or causing to be published or broadcast, the said words or any words similarly defamatory of Chief Okoroji</div>
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The suit filed by Chief Okoroji is different from the court action filed by COSON against Mr. Omorogbe.</div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-4389998463761821902018-03-08T12:20:00.000+01:002018-03-08T12:20:14.518+01:00EFE OMOROGBE HUMILIATED AGAIN AS COSON HEAD OF FINANCE REFUSES HIS ‘GREEK GIFT’ <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkgIdvhcKypwOUJJKUKSgl8q66wjwNvQEb1M7BwGkA7rrBNPZM2IEmBnoz6emjQGm8oaG8qBFAXo4HQXc0v67gFzf6p2TL0gKRTcz1tu7wEUdCYoZsjAJi4O84pDSF2Y01Cb6IqUHqNY/s1600/DSC_6553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkgIdvhcKypwOUJJKUKSgl8q66wjwNvQEb1M7BwGkA7rrBNPZM2IEmBnoz6emjQGm8oaG8qBFAXo4HQXc0v67gFzf6p2TL0gKRTcz1tu7wEUdCYoZsjAJi4O84pDSF2Y01Cb6IqUHqNY/s400/DSC_6553.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">EFE OMOROGBE HUMILIATED AGAIN AS COSON HEAD OF FINANCE REFUSES HIS ‘GREEK GIFT’ </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Efe Omorogbe, the very embattled former member of the Board of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) who was recently locked out of COSON House has just received another huge embarrassment as the COSON Head of Finance & Administration, Ms Bernice Eriemeghe has immediately turned her back at Efe Omorogbe’s desperate directive to Ms Eriemeghe to take over from Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji as General Manager of COSON.</span></div>
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In response to Mr Efe Omorogbe’s directive, Ms Eriemeghe issued the following statement: </div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
“THANK YOU MR OMOROGBE BUT NO TO YOUR GREEK GIFT</div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
“I have been informed that Mr. Efe Omorogbe and his group have asked me to take over as Acting General Manager of COSON.</div>
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“I am a woman of honour and I hereby say ‘No’ to what I consider a Greek gift and a scheme that will result in divide and rule. My colleagues and I in the Management of COSON jointly signed a letter sent to the NCC in which we emphasized our position and informed them that issuing opaque directives to COSON which they know cannot be obeyed will result in chaos in the organization. We have also warned of our massive resignation should they continue to meddle in the internal affairs of the organization which we are capable of resolving. I have no intention of betraying my colleagues.</div>
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“Furthermore, I was present at the COSON Extra- Ordinary General Meeting held in COSON Arena on December 19, 2017 when the members of COSON from every part of Nigeria spoke loudly and clearly in one voice that Chief Tony Okoroji should remain as the Chairman among other issues. Please let us all respect the collective will of the majority of the members of COSON that we are all accountable to and represent their interest.</div>
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“Mr. Efe Omorogbe is a very good friend of mine but the interest and desires of the members of COSON is most paramount at this point. It is a statement of fact that the members of COSON do not want Mr. Omorogbe as their Chairman at this time. That is clear to me. Anyone trying to force him on the members of COSON does not mean well for COSON as this clearly is capable of destroying the organization.</div>
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“For the avoidance of doubt, I will continue to support Mr. Chinedu Angus Chukwuji as General Manager of COSON and Chief Tony Okoroji as Chairman.</div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
“Thank you.</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
“BERNICE ERIEMEGHE</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
Head of Finance & Administration”</div>
</span></span>COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-54201628470288326742018-03-06T09:16:00.000+01:002018-03-06T09:16:09.127+01:00COSON SUES EFE OMOROGBE: ASKS THAT HE STOPS PARADING HIMSELF AS AN OFFICER OF COSON OR CHAIRMAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvwHh_pVIGvM34XEIwmsoFNQcsjIMOaGv8jxq821FkdEvwOHxil8VLi9L966W8_CIdvaGJZZDTgKeeu0uWwPqhylGeabL20WZL4w_8pvRZ6V1va43k8jWHrIqsSxpyAnysA8VmDY0r88/s1600/COSON+artwork.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvwHh_pVIGvM34XEIwmsoFNQcsjIMOaGv8jxq821FkdEvwOHxil8VLi9L966W8_CIdvaGJZZDTgKeeu0uWwPqhylGeabL20WZL4w_8pvRZ6V1va43k8jWHrIqsSxpyAnysA8VmDY0r88/s640/COSON+artwork.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">COSON SUES EFE OMOROGBE:
ASKS THAT HE STOPS PARADING HIMSELF AS AN OFFICER OF COSON OR CHAIRMAN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has gone to court against a
former member of its Board, Mr. Efe Omorogbe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the suit No ID/4827/GCMW18 filed on behalf of COSON by Mr.
James Ononiwu of Whitedove Solicitors, the society has asked for an injunction
restraining Mr. Efe Omorogbe from parading himself as Chairman of Copyright
Society of Nigeria (COSON).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">COSON has also requested
from the court an injunction restraining Mr. Omorogbe whether by himself,
servant, privy or agent from calling or convening any meeting by whatever name,
be it board meeting, general meeting, etc, at any location whether in Lagos or
anywhere in the country or outside the country in the name of Copyright Society
of Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The action which has COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji as joint
claimant is supported by a 16 paragraph sworn statement deposed to by the
General Manager of COSON, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Commenting on the development, Afro Juju superstar and COSON Board
member, Sir Shina Peters said, “there is no well-meaning person in the Nigerian
creative community who is not proud of COSON, an organization that has been
managed with the level of professionalism and sophistication previously thought
impossible in Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHd7GFjhXmngTQH_qJPBgaLClRI20mwDMdZGpVvukdHbV_7pnNRy-P66AWGyROYT5vujWXNIL4tf99rzIrmFQl3WdfhmdsyFv_Diey_Vt12rnwZxmxDANbbM0slaTsRt6lPFp5NZEbnU/s1600/DSC_6550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHd7GFjhXmngTQH_qJPBgaLClRI20mwDMdZGpVvukdHbV_7pnNRy-P66AWGyROYT5vujWXNIL4tf99rzIrmFQl3WdfhmdsyFv_Diey_Vt12rnwZxmxDANbbM0slaTsRt6lPFp5NZEbnU/s400/DSC_6550.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sir Shina Peters<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">“The quality of leadership provided to COSON by our Chairman,
Chief Tony Okoroji, has resulted in phenomenal growth in the society. It is sad
that those who were too busy to dedicate their time to COSON suddenly have a
lot of time for the organization. They want to hijack COSON, suck it dry and
kill it the same way PMAN was killed after Okoroji had built PMAN into a big
national institution.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The members of COSON across Nigeria, the Board, our management,
consultants, reciprocal representation partners across the world and very many
young Nigerians are united and resolute that what happened to PMAN will not
happen to COSON. COSON is a legacy we will bestow on the next generation of
Nigerian artistes. We are 100% in support of Chief Tony Okoroji, an uncommon
Nigerian who has dedicated an entire life time to ensure respect for the
Nigerian creative community. We trust him. Can’t everybody see that the more
they try to destroy Okoroji, the more his profile grows? I want to assure
everyone that despite the concerted attack on COSON from well-known quarters,
COSON continues to work and work very well. I remain very proud of COSON”</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-91932564740725344182018-02-27T17:32:00.001+01:002018-02-27T17:33:50.933+01:00COSON TO HOLD 2018 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON MAY 10 AT LAGOS SHERATON IKEJA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1z34KeTHjwqwTmXNdnqpRSdm-BrlEPVZT3kEIp75U4qW8ZxEDK5lSMhKrF8FzzdJUfbW_-8leRZ4010_vNCujV1bFauTyer8beUU8BdB5FWE-X1ScChBb3hip7Eo_OAeBRnIXz4pOPY/s1600/COSON+artwork.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1z34KeTHjwqwTmXNdnqpRSdm-BrlEPVZT3kEIp75U4qW8ZxEDK5lSMhKrF8FzzdJUfbW_-8leRZ4010_vNCujV1bFauTyer8beUU8BdB5FWE-X1ScChBb3hip7Eo_OAeBRnIXz4pOPY/s640/COSON+artwork.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2018 COSON ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING TO HOLD MAY 10 AT LAGOS SHERATON IKEJA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The 2018 Annual General Meeting of Copyright Society of
Nigeria (COSON) will hold on May 10, 2018 at Lagos Sheraton Hotel Ikeja.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The decision was taken at a meeting of the full Board of the
society which held at COSON House, Ikeja on February 26, 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At the AGM, elections to all vacant positions on the Board
will be held and the report of the auditors to the society will be considered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Board meeting also resolved to pursue with every
diligence the setting aside at the Court of Appeal of the judgment delivered by
Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court on February 13 in the case
brought by COSON against MCSN, the AGF and NCC. According to the Board, except
overturned, the judgment will destroy the collective management of copyright in
Nigeria and put many commercial users of musical content at enormous risk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Board also approved Management’s request for new
sophisticated software to speed up specific distribution of royalties to
members and affiliates of the society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2lCHCIqry4m2ENs4eyZjgisay4iRL4ECbRI7Mr46idg0ovF5A3uo0uQoUJIR4JaGGSzZBc_rw0S5VxQwJ4NP1nTyW-wFEZ8u8HaBgxwb9PZWf-Hi56f-_M9ucOVlJGXGTBbN7rC0i28/s1600/27072953_1776353572671677_438496776619318625_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2lCHCIqry4m2ENs4eyZjgisay4iRL4ECbRI7Mr46idg0ovF5A3uo0uQoUJIR4JaGGSzZBc_rw0S5VxQwJ4NP1nTyW-wFEZ8u8HaBgxwb9PZWf-Hi56f-_M9ucOVlJGXGTBbN7rC0i28/s640/27072953_1776353572671677_438496776619318625_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Present at the Board meeting presided over by Chief Tony
Okoroji, Chairman of COSON, were Board members, Sir Shina Peters, Ras Kimono,
Hon John Udegbunam, Kenny Saint Brown, Azeezat Allen, Engr Sharon Esco Wilson,
Maureen Ejezie, Richard Cole and Uche Emeka Paul. Also present were Mr. Chinedu
Chukwuji, the society’s General Manager and Ms Bernice Eriemeghe, the society’s
Head of Finance & Administration.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-48786800238336373162018-02-26T18:30:00.000+01:002018-02-26T18:30:43.670+01:00READ FULL TEXT OF VICTOR UWAIFO'S MISSILE TO NCC DG, EZEKUDE<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4NfcwVXE50Ivtq5xLMeppgk6jtxoiT2GTROerTtNnOk4tLPmYvKHe_NcD328ObjezVzfiorOLub-5CT561hmFElPxytLhSjdnfuiWH6MyoqM7yASI7rkYh4imYqlMIVdJjvHp2Wruag/s1600/Sir-Victor-Uwaifo-BellaNaija-August-2015-image004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="782" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4NfcwVXE50Ivtq5xLMeppgk6jtxoiT2GTROerTtNnOk4tLPmYvKHe_NcD328ObjezVzfiorOLub-5CT561hmFElPxytLhSjdnfuiWH6MyoqM7yASI7rkYh4imYqlMIVdJjvHp2Wruag/s640/Sir-Victor-Uwaifo-BellaNaija-August-2015-image004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;">I read with utmost disgust your
recent letter to COSON widely published on the Internet in which you attempted
to give instructions to COSON, an independent private sector organization, as
if COSON is a department under your Commission.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">For the avoidance of doubt, I
presided over the meeting of the members of COSON held in Lagos on December 19,
2017 at which meeting; COSON members, all over Nigeria freely and unanimously
in one voice, restored Chief Tony Okoroji as Chairman of our Society. It was
clear to me that every well-meaning member of COSON who attended the meeting
was angered by the decision of the purported removal of Chief Okoroji by six
members of the Society on December 7, 2017. The removal of Okoroji was an
attempt to hijack COSON at a critical period in its history and destroy our
fledging organization, the same way PMAN was destroyed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Absolutely, the interest of
these six individuals cannot override that of the thousands of COSON members,
affiliates and foreign reciprocal partners who are overwhelmingly impressed and
satisfied with the incredible personal sacrifice and leadership of Chief Tony
Okoroji who has built COSON and made it a model and a source of pride to the
creative community in Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Just for the records, I am PROF.
SIR VICTOR UWAIFO JP, MON. I am 76 years old. I am a musician, well known all
over the world, a composer with a rich repertoire of musical works and sound
recordings, an intellectual, a professor of Fine and Applied Arts, a key
founding member of COSON and a subscriber to the COSON Memorandum &
Articles of Association. I have served on the Board of COSON, been involved
with the progress made by COSON in the last 7years under the inspirational
leadership and energy of an uncommon Nigerian and with your <b>invisible presence as Director-General of
the NCC</b>. I have also held several distinguished political appointments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">If I wanted to be sectional or
parochial, I would have thrown my weight behind Mr. Efe Omorogbe who is from my
State and with whom I have an ongoing close professional relationship. At my
age, if I had done that, I would have done a disservice to generations of
Nigerian musicians and investors in the music industry and my conscience would
not be at rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Despite my close relationship
with Efe Omorogbe, he is not the choice of COSON members at this time and no
one in Abuja or elsewhere can change that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I have read the letter written
to you by the Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Mr.
Abubakar Malami ordering you to approve another CMO in the same class of works
administered by COSON so as to create commotion within our industry and wipe
out the most successful organization in the history of the Nigerian Creative
Industry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Anybody reading the letter from
the AGF can immediately see that you know that the order given to you is both
unlawful and ultra vires. You however did not have the courage to refuse to carry
out this unlawful order. The commotion caused by your action has set in what
appears to be a conspiracy to get rid of Chief Tony Okoroji, the one man you
all know has the knowledge, experience, personal conviction and courage to
resist the seeming plan to shake down users of music content across Nigeria in
billions of Naira and set our industry back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Your letter dated February 19,
2018 addressed to the General Manager of COSON, REF: NCC/DG/132/1/66 which went
virile on the social media even before it got to the recipient is a clear
testimony of bad faith on your part in the handling of the affairs of COSON.
Since your letter to COSON was widely published to inflict the greatest injury,
I have no choice but to ensure that this letter is also widely published in the
internet to set the records straight. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">As a Commission, one would have
expected that you will be more concerned over the other moribund Collecting
Societies that were approved several years ago by the commission with nothing
to show and the biting piracy militating against the creative industry rather
than meddling and destabilizing COSON which is being run professionally and
which has the requisite capacity to deal with its internal issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I do not know how much you are
aware of the history of the Nigerian Copyright Commission which you now head
and from which you are issuing orders as if you are God Almighty. It was the
same Chief Tony Okoroji that galvanized the entire nation with unsurpassed
advocacy and massive demonstrations in Nigeria that forced the government to
promulgate the copyright law. The young man risked his life for this. He could
have been killed by the military government at that time. He participated in
drafting the Copyright law with the help of others like Prof. Egerton Ovieghara
who became the first Chairman of the NCC. Chief Okoroji’s successful agitation
culminated in the setting up of the NCC. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">It follows that everyone
employed by the NCC including yourself and the many thousands who today benefit
from the copyright system in our nation owe this unique Nigerian a debt of
gratitude. Sadly, there appears to be concerted effort to destroy his good name
and character to achieve a perfidious objective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">It is important to reemphasize
that you stay away and refuse to be used anymore as a tool in any action that
can lead to the instability and possible disintegration of COSON, Nigeria’s
most successful organization in the creative industry ever. Please avoid any
friction between the members of COSON and the leadership of your Commission
which will serve no good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">For the avoidance of doubt, the
Chairman of COSON freely chosen by the members of COSON is Chief Tony Okoroji.
We have tried him and found him worthy of our trust. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">A word is enough for the wise!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Sincerely yours,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">PROF. (SIR) VICTOR UWAIFO JP,
MON<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">CC: President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> President of Nigeria<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Vice President of Nigeria<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Senator Bukola Saraki<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> President of the Senate, Federal
Republic of Nigeria<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Hon. Justice Walter S.N. Onnoghen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Chief Justice of Nigeria<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Speaker, House of Representatives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Alhaji Lai Mohammed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Hon. Minister of Information &
Culture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Your
Excellencies, the above is for your information and necessary actions, <b>please.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">PROF. (SIR) VICTOR UWAIFO JP,
MON<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-23280603545450952912018-02-26T17:29:00.000+01:002018-02-26T17:29:05.734+01:00SIR VICTOR UWAIFO FIRES NCC DG, EZEKUDE OVER COSON (LETTER ATTACHED)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTyUo2nQZrbjAWn1brQRdN7eQF78vxNToA7ZXNDpNm7gm-LQ1KNdc4hwGlCiWLerymybQlBnijVICyjZr5VOSSjlT_QQ7n2Nnpy_XLYjlao52b2mik6FlHpAx2DJgiuSs5lF9nbT1Qgc/s1600/scann+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="680" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTyUo2nQZrbjAWn1brQRdN7eQF78vxNToA7ZXNDpNm7gm-LQ1KNdc4hwGlCiWLerymybQlBnijVICyjZr5VOSSjlT_QQ7n2Nnpy_XLYjlao52b2mik6FlHpAx2DJgiuSs5lF9nbT1Qgc/s640/scann+1.jpeg" width="464" /></a></div>
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<br />COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-87501646898036210112018-02-23T15:06:00.000+01:002018-02-23T15:06:02.418+01:00CELEBRATIONS AT COSON HOUSE AS COSON CHAIRMAN, CHIEF TONY OKOROJI RECEIVES ‘‘AFRICA’S PATRIOTIC PERSONALITY AWARD’’<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bPa-1IlWM_FViQt9-wa6w8TkSBugJ_LEREOXNyHDvooxmyFl9A7798aDzYRUhr2GwcK-fSUbqKlgKDFXNN5tdmF0aZU6OgbBL_r-yoQnP__VFd3Csf3Lluapodb2hsJ2xgGtmiOJqlQ/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bPa-1IlWM_FViQt9-wa6w8TkSBugJ_LEREOXNyHDvooxmyFl9A7798aDzYRUhr2GwcK-fSUbqKlgKDFXNN5tdmF0aZU6OgbBL_r-yoQnP__VFd3Csf3Lluapodb2hsJ2xgGtmiOJqlQ/s640/DSC_0041.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CELEBRATIONS
AT COSON HOUSE AS COSON CHAIRMAN, CHIEF TONY OKOROJI RECEIVES ‘‘AFRICA’S PATRIOTIC
PERSONALITY AWARD’’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
magnificent COSON House in Ikeja on Friday February 23, 2018 played host to
several students from around the African continent as COSON Chairman, Chief
Tony Okoroji was bestowed with the prestigious ‘‘Africa’s Patriotic Personality
Award’’ by the League of African Development Students (LEADS Africa) – an
umbrella body of democratic Students Union
from different countries in Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The 6-member
team of LEADS Africa consisted of Njoku Obioma Daniel from Enugu State University,
Abayomi Okuwoga from Lagos State University, Okafor Obiageli from the
University of Benin, Benin Republic, Osisiogu Osikenyi from the Institute of Technology,
Accra, Tagheli Jean Bedel from the Universite De Yaoundé and Morgan Gabriel
from the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVHSkB0h8WoEYgLljVzM0Ae52pVcwJ1Z_-42JtuZ0OCkPYM60VwqbP_LV-L-ZogQlDZhuigjrUVIR4xFcmiTWpUGBvFq3LZ_SYIvA-wLEbHM2ok__9SlvEVMD0fn30sNj8CfaSi4BI_4/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVHSkB0h8WoEYgLljVzM0Ae52pVcwJ1Z_-42JtuZ0OCkPYM60VwqbP_LV-L-ZogQlDZhuigjrUVIR4xFcmiTWpUGBvFq3LZ_SYIvA-wLEbHM2ok__9SlvEVMD0fn30sNj8CfaSi4BI_4/s640/DSC_0006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Addressing
the audience on the reason behind the award, the General Secretary, Osisiogu
Osikenyi said, ‘‘It is noteworthy to say that we are here to honour Chief Tony
Okoroji an erudite and proven authority in Africa’s creative space per
excellence as ‘Africa’s Patriotic Personality of the Year in recognition of his
outstanding contributions to Africa’s development via Copyright Advocacy, Human
and Nation Building, True Democracy, as well as his meritorious service to God
and humanity, and also COSON with ‘Corporate Mandate Delivery’ Merit Award the
for the corporate commitment towards achieving the mandate for which it was set
up. It is important to also emphasize the extent to which the mandate of COSON
is enabling the continuous growth of Nigeria. We as an organization in the past
2 – 3 years have paid attention to the issue of non – oil revenue and that coinciding
with the nose dive of oil prices that has been experienced, we have come to the
realization that apart from Agriculture, the Entertainment sector and especially
Intellectual Property, must be paid attention to by all as it is the next oil.’’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzX91JyymP1IWxumx5v3JEWxKqyJlHlqbwSdFyDhuzSQe7b5UTC75DuslVHwEbToK0f_87vGtk_b0O1jM8f644uBGONnqYWZbz3Isr8_YT1QvQ0FJrkdWvqhuHEWXP6EtjkL9b4ZlDRY/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzX91JyymP1IWxumx5v3JEWxKqyJlHlqbwSdFyDhuzSQe7b5UTC75DuslVHwEbToK0f_87vGtk_b0O1jM8f644uBGONnqYWZbz3Isr8_YT1QvQ0FJrkdWvqhuHEWXP6EtjkL9b4ZlDRY/s640/DSC_0010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In his
response, Chief Okoroji said ‘‘I want to commend you all for your efforts at integrating
different countries in Africa at such a critical age for the development of our
continent. I believe that the division we have in terms of countries are artificial.
We are one people and we have one destiny. For the countries in Africa to work,
people must build them. We need to begin to make sacrifices to build our nation
even if it entails giving up our lives. That is a price we must pay for the
youths of Africa so that the youths of Africa will no longer be risking their
lives in the Mediterranean trying to get to Europe and then end up being sold
as slaves, and our young girls will not have to sell their body on the streets
around the world to make a living, because we have what it takes to build our
continent.’’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘‘I want
to thank you all exceedingly on behalf of my family and on behalf of the management,
staff and members of COSON for the honour you have done to us today. We say Thank
you.’’ He concluded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Rockwell",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On hand
to receive the team were the COSON General Manager, Chinedu Chukwuji, COSON
Consultant, Prince Biodun Eguakhide, COSON Head of Finance and Administration,
Bernice Eriemeghe, COSON Head of Corporate Affairs, Chibueze Okereke and COSON
Head of New Media, Tolu Balogun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-71251989023952234182018-02-13T16:01:00.001+01:002018-02-13T16:04:45.239+01:00BREAKING NEWS!!! COSON DECLARES VICTORY DESPITE BUBA’S JUDGEMENT AND PROMISES IMMEDIATE & VIGOROUS APPEAL IN CASE AGAINST AGF MALAMI & MCSN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "rockwell" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BREAKING NEWS!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "rockwell" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">COSON DECLARES VICTORY
DESPITE BUBA’S JUDGEMENT AND PROMISES IMMEDIATE & VIGOROUS APPEAL IN CASE
AGAINST AGF MALAMI & MCSN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "rockwell" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has said that it is celebrating
the judgement of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Suit No.
FHC/L/CS/1259/2017 filed by COSON against MCSN, the Nigerian Copyright
Commission (NCC) and the Attorney- General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar
Malami. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "rockwell" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chief Tony Okoroji, the COSON Chairman, who led COSON to file
the suit and who has led the unprecedented nationwide COSON protest against the
2-month withdrawal of the case file from the presiding judge was in court as
the judgment was read on Thursday, February 13, 2018. Also in court were other members of the COSON
Board such as Sir Shina Peters, Kenny Saint Brown, Azeezat Allen, Richard Cole,
Sharon Esco Wilson, Maureen Ejezie, etc. Also in court was Prince Biodun
Eguakhide, the COSON Edo/Delta Co-Ordinator who has acted as COSON Head of
Enforcement across the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "rockwell" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Said Chief Okoroji after the judgment, “I am a thoroughbred
copyright man with deep knowledge of the subject. While Buba’s judgment is
confusing, it is still victory for the musicians of Nigeria. That was why we
were singing and dancing in court. If the judgment was not delivered when it
was, we may have had to start the matter all over again. With the judgment, we
now have a throve of materials to immediately and vigorously take the matter
out of the Federal High Court system to the Court of Appeal where the issues
can be properly argued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsTtc9fjh0XvC99fy9uaKZi5vadI3gKXCUZzxND2-GiJi1EGbep6v3B4a41jqua7kwEU8I2v2T9XEBSW-rDniYlFzhVqUFoDzn-BFlEPRWn1gM3idiXnAGiQDULXbEPP0mMw-3Or0w_U/s1600/DSC_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsTtc9fjh0XvC99fy9uaKZi5vadI3gKXCUZzxND2-GiJi1EGbep6v3B4a41jqua7kwEU8I2v2T9XEBSW-rDniYlFzhVqUFoDzn-BFlEPRWn1gM3idiXnAGiQDULXbEPP0mMw-3Or0w_U/s640/DSC_0055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "rockwell" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Everyone
knows that our objective was never judgement but justice. We are not naïve. This
is a marathon and not a dash. After many weeks of arm-twisting, high level
manipulation and blackmail, we knew that quite a bit of water would have passed
under the bridge when the case file was returned and anything can happen. We
have been prepared for every outcome. Regardless of what Justice Buba has decided,
we will not go to sleep. We will not go to sleep until we stop the </span><span style="font-family: "rockwell" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">attempt to turn
the Nigerian music industry into a gold mine belonging to no one, from where
those who have made no investments nor contributions can cart away illicit
billions while the true creators and investors languish in penury.<span style="color: #222222;"> Let the whole world know that we will not rest until the
Malami MCSN Mafia (MMM), is finally banished from our industry, and peace,
stability and progress are restored”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "rockwell" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are immediately going to the Court of Appeal on this
matter. Our protest will continue. We will not sleep, we will not slumber.
There will be no retreat and no surrender until justice is done”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-29862091223289795052018-01-31T16:57:00.000+01:002018-01-31T16:57:02.682+01:00COSON HOLDS WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE, CALLS FOR THE RESIGNATION OF THE ACTING CHIEF JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT, ABDUL KAFARATI<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZE_8X6Ey5kLzZG5zYSv5XV-04tD3ySvUxp8s789lVj1rKbxr1yfkqXqzpX8HAGHnutE8AdwS3I2_Vwo7qAH4ZnLLEyaBwpztce7dkDvpEwMPkGIhafJvBgBtBuZGwXr2-94wrKgAs2U0/s1600/27067727_1776354396004928_8371982532736913904_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZE_8X6Ey5kLzZG5zYSv5XV-04tD3ySvUxp8s789lVj1rKbxr1yfkqXqzpX8HAGHnutE8AdwS3I2_Vwo7qAH4ZnLLEyaBwpztce7dkDvpEwMPkGIhafJvBgBtBuZGwXr2-94wrKgAs2U0/s640/27067727_1776354396004928_8371982532736913904_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">COSON CALLS FOR THE RESIGNATION OF THE ACTING CHIEF JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT, ABDUL KAFARATI</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Members of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) who have since January 15, 2018 been protesting at different Federal High Court locations across Nigeria have called for the resignation of the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, for his role in what COSON has called ‘a frightening new assault on the Nigerian Judiciary and an attempt to turn the Nigeria music industry into a gold mine belonging to no one, from where those who have made no investments nor contributions to the industry can cart away illicit billions of Naira while the true creators and investors in the industry languish in penury.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8B4pd0mO8NneuNnP9zjeGV49FhV_0uPFlOOUaNj77vfi7dy0DKM3gGJDxWnus7Etohhm6GphAc-IpPl-TtgtJAThIiQl9E8U_frn7M88fo7O3dtDm5D3CSOTdOFoGvMMajAdoigJyaA/s1600/27336695_1776354422671592_9007569193977888198_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8B4pd0mO8NneuNnP9zjeGV49FhV_0uPFlOOUaNj77vfi7dy0DKM3gGJDxWnus7Etohhm6GphAc-IpPl-TtgtJAThIiQl9E8U_frn7M88fo7O3dtDm5D3CSOTdOFoGvMMajAdoigJyaA/s640/27336695_1776354422671592_9007569193977888198_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Addressing a mammoth world press conference at COSON House in Ikeja on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman of COSON on behalf of the society said that it is the position of COSON that Justice Abdul Kafarati should not be confirmed as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. According to the words read by Okoroji, “it is clear to any serious observer that the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, is being played like a tambourine and has become the turntable through which much of this very bad music is coming out of the Federal High Court, an important national institution. Justice Kafarati is not in control. If all these can happen while he is in an acting capacity, what will happen if he is made the substantive Chief Judge?”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0YNf_sqORqKsa__Sp7RytGtbWNiMPEt5EBPh5i3lB8x0gU5lPuuMN3C_5WuaRSSdX-kV_Cd_TG8DOQNBE47ZTTfqz8fpkjbgxoB7eu-nDCOUWkB0-0Ivtns_98ExS9BBMH9T-x-SxKY/s1600/27541056_1776355259338175_4950001861561490271_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0YNf_sqORqKsa__Sp7RytGtbWNiMPEt5EBPh5i3lB8x0gU5lPuuMN3C_5WuaRSSdX-kV_Cd_TG8DOQNBE47ZTTfqz8fpkjbgxoB7eu-nDCOUWkB0-0Ivtns_98ExS9BBMH9T-x-SxKY/s640/27541056_1776355259338175_4950001861561490271_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Stressing the resolve of COSON, Chief Okoroji said, “We will continue to protest until the arm twisting and blackmailing of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos is brought to an end, the Federal High Court of Nigeria is left free to do justice to all men as the judges deem fit and the Attorney–General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami is stopped from further meddling in the affairs of the Nigerian music industry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“We will deploy our voices, drums, cymbals, trumpets, guitars and every other musical instrument available to us and we will employ our talents in our protest until the whole world hears us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“We will continue this indefinite protest until the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) is returned to the supervision of the Minister charged with responsibility for culture as expressly provided in Section 51 of the Nigerian Copyright Act”.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiP6Qdh5Bj31F-uhuwv4YPX-oFe9FH9tqVzzCpuK9eV5IcNyHujo1kcCjh69jBKmZLlT0EJ68-NNrrVdFcE9XGQF2kfJYNHFqod5FnFEQruYtndAesUR0gWpewodTeQBe__nwkE2THe4/s1600/27458905_1776353452671689_6078182529502010741_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiP6Qdh5Bj31F-uhuwv4YPX-oFe9FH9tqVzzCpuK9eV5IcNyHujo1kcCjh69jBKmZLlT0EJ68-NNrrVdFcE9XGQF2kfJYNHFqod5FnFEQruYtndAesUR0gWpewodTeQBe__nwkE2THe4/s640/27458905_1776353452671689_6078182529502010741_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Decrying the recent award of the sum of almost N6 billion against Mutichoice Nigeria to the group known as Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) which is facing seven pending criminal cases at the Federal High Court and which the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami ordered the Nigerian Copyright Commission to approve in 2017, despite the protest of the NCC, Chief Okoroji said that the development is bizarre because at the time the purported infringement took place, MCSN was not an approved collecting society and that there is a plethora of Court of Appeal decisions stating that without approval, MCSN cannot collect royalties in Nigeria.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQobmpG2MaEWHgvhQgghb5dHLig4z7xdA-2UTXhFDDjg6Nm9qGmXV_9SYhVp71PnQcNelU-7n4KfFsNW9n2uVCjcTLfAB8RPy2s6iUtJqsUikLVSKAb0qMl8X1A-26UkrF81YKN-YoLGc/s1600/27072953_1776353572671677_438496776619318625_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQobmpG2MaEWHgvhQgghb5dHLig4z7xdA-2UTXhFDDjg6Nm9qGmXV_9SYhVp71PnQcNelU-7n4KfFsNW9n2uVCjcTLfAB8RPy2s6iUtJqsUikLVSKAb0qMl8X1A-26UkrF81YKN-YoLGc/s640/27072953_1776353572671677_438496776619318625_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Okoroji also said that a number of the works said to have been infringed are works in the repertoire controlled by COSON for which Multichoice Nigeria has obtained a legitimate license. Chief Okoroji said that COSON has received reactions from some of its international affiliates wondering what the hell is going on in Nigeria as some of the works for which MCSN was said to have received the award belong to these COSON affiliates and at no time did they assign the works to MCSN.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He asked for a precedent for the kind of award against Multichoice asking that if a single Nigerian company providing employment to hundreds if not thousands of Nigerian citizens can be said to liable up to the whopping sum of 6 billion Naira for copyright infringement in the broadcast of 18 songs then it would require the entire national budget of Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt to pay for the entire Multichoice content.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uNDIDJG3R-kfHYaEQAgSSeIRtkP-RHqV64AxT8sqENTLhVSQeBwgWDrDFnRGf2UnLy1XWf_KVajVfq09fTQbJ-kunBM2qYIAQ16NvYvNDPBJdSTXzzMosSuLZWsfB8D37bi5O6RFgNc/s1600/27459385_1776353456005022_3388243284750132263_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uNDIDJG3R-kfHYaEQAgSSeIRtkP-RHqV64AxT8sqENTLhVSQeBwgWDrDFnRGf2UnLy1XWf_KVajVfq09fTQbJ-kunBM2qYIAQ16NvYvNDPBJdSTXzzMosSuLZWsfB8D37bi5O6RFgNc/s640/27459385_1776353456005022_3388243284750132263_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Asked the celebrated former president of PMAN, “For a nation that continuously says that it badly wants direct foreign investment, which rational person would want to come and invest his money in Nigeria and expose himself to this kind of frightful shake down?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Chief Tony Okoroji who is one of Africa’s most respected authorities on Intellectual Property said, “Some of us have spent practically our entire adult lives campaigning for the respect for intellectual property rights in our country. Our campaign has been for a responsible intellectual property system. Rather than help the collective management of copyright in Nigeria, the kind of shake down of Multichoice which will ruin entire companies will turn decent people against the collective management of copyright and hurt our industry and our country. After Mutichoice, who will be next?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">At the Press Conference, COSON called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call Mr. Abubakar Malami to order. The society also called on the National Judicial Council and the National Assembly to ensure that there is a full and transparent probe of what is happening at both the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Federal High Court.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">COSON has also asked the Federal Executive Council to direct the immediate return of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to the supervision of the Minister charged with responsibility for culture as expressly provided in Section 51 of the Nigerian Copyright Act so that the Commission can be properly deployed to the promotion of the Nigerian creative industry instead of being a tool for the pursuit of devious schemes as it is presently being deployed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhisjyd5NdMqfgDv9MjOyfiwCJV2uhdvbHTR5jLd4gN0tmzUa39KswWRkzMxZD0-Am6vVq2Phs5yh_u_JipW5jjhTJGQCP02W8aNmVEYL6ZNooue6HlU8hQJJQbNq5BOAgurua4f3nesI/s1600/27331629_1776354582671576_8111784739580210652_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhisjyd5NdMqfgDv9MjOyfiwCJV2uhdvbHTR5jLd4gN0tmzUa39KswWRkzMxZD0-Am6vVq2Phs5yh_u_JipW5jjhTJGQCP02W8aNmVEYL6ZNooue6HlU8hQJJQbNq5BOAgurua4f3nesI/s640/27331629_1776354582671576_8111784739580210652_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The society promised that on the issues, there will be no retreat and no surrender. One of the highlights of the Press Conference was the live presentation by Reggae Star, King Wadada of his new song titled ‘Minister of Injustice’ in protest of the undue interference of AGF Abubakar Malami in the music industry.</span></div>
COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-7633973754853937912017-09-13T15:33:00.000+01:002017-09-13T15:38:36.632+01:00BREAKING NEWS!!! LAGOS LAWYER, OPE BANWO, IN HOT SOUP AS COSON & OKOROJI SLAM ‘MOTHER OF ALL LIBEL SUITS’ AGAINST HIM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKnD8vDw0mWoYqd2Q7k-kush6vVl_VvbXbBbgq-bglEiEvCmGWcaHAAfYF9Z6kyRerKBBw3DmPPL0svU7n-7dF70s8ltAPcrz2BvIXhZk7Wi285CipnNNKLsDXPq694iddp4JupTx_ow/s1600/ope+NOW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="416" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKnD8vDw0mWoYqd2Q7k-kush6vVl_VvbXbBbgq-bglEiEvCmGWcaHAAfYF9Z6kyRerKBBw3DmPPL0svU7n-7dF70s8ltAPcrz2BvIXhZk7Wi285CipnNNKLsDXPq694iddp4JupTx_ow/s640/ope+NOW.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BREAKING
NEWS!!!<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LAGOS LAWYER, OPE
BANWO, IN HOT SOUP AS COSON & OKOROJI SLAM ‘MOTHER OF ALL LIBEL SUITS’ AGAINST HIM<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">True to the earlier warning sent to Lagos Lawyer, Ope Banwo in
a letter dated May 5, 2017, lawyers to Chief Tony Okoroji and Copyright Society
of Nigeria (COSON) have filed a Five Hundred Million Naira libel action against
Mr. Banwo at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja. The suit No Temp/30970/2017<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> filed on behalf of Chief Okoroji and COSON by Mr. Justin
Ige of Creative Legal is supported by a 47 paragraph Statement of Claim and
numerous attachments. Okoroji and COSON are also calling seven witnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Statement of Claim, Chief Tony Okoroji
and COSON pleaded that having not been invited and not being a member of COSON
and not having any genuine business to do at COSON, Mr. Ope Banwo had on Friday
28 April 2017 stormed the offices of COSON then at 25 Omodara Street, Opebi
Lagos and without seeking or obtaining the permission of COSON and with a
smartphone began to live stream the images of the staff of COSON at work and
the premises of COSON on the Internet accompanied by very vile, blatantly
false, reckless and inciting statements and commentaries made by Mr. Banwo
against Chief Okoroji and COSON which were clearly intended to engineer a
revolt against Chief Okoroji and COSON by the members of COSON, stakeholders in
the music industry, the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the
world at large. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chief Okoroji and COSON also pleaded
that in publishing and/ or causing to be published the false, reckless,
obnoxious, wicked, sordid, unjustified, unwarranted and malicious words, Mr.
Banwo had calculated that the wicked words, statements and innuendoes would
have credibility and do the most devastating injury on the integrity and
reputation of Okoroji and COSON since Banwo had craftily presented himself as a
lawyer defending the interest of Nigerian musicians and the Nigerian music
industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The former President of PMAN and COSON
have asked the court for General and Aggravated damages in the sum of N500,000,000.00
(Five Hundred Million Naira) for injuries to the credit, character and
reputation of the Claimants as a result of the unjustified, unwarranted,
malicious, wicked, reckless and libelous publications made/and or caused to be
made against the Claimants by Mr. Banwo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They have also asked the court to order
Mr. Ope Banwo to publish full page unreserved apology on Facebook, Vanguard,
the Guardian, the Sun and the Punch Newspapers as a result of the unjustified,
unwarranted, malicious, wicked, reckless, and libelous publications made/and or
caused to be made against the Claimants by him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reacting to the development, COSON
General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji said, “we are not prepared to be a
punching bag for any mischievous, misguided or attention seeking individual. At
COSON, we are constantly reaching out to our members, the media, the government
and the public at large to clarify our actions and operations and will continue
to do so. We are a very professional,
transparent and accountable organization, one of the very best in the
continent. COSON is a Nigerian organization operating at world class standards.
We serve the members of COSON and defend their interests with all our hearts
and have absolutely nothing to hide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“At COSON, we very much welcome fair
criticism. What we will not tolerate is for any individual or group of persons
to concoct, manufacture, fabricate or invent a tissue of lies and to deploy and
spread those lies in an attempt to destroy our hard-earned reputation or the
work we do on behalf of our members. If we have to go to court one hundred
times to protect our name, we will do so. No one, no matter how powerful, popular
or notorious, will be allowed to bring us down in order to bring attention to
himself or to promote whatever cause he seeks. Let it be clear to one and all
that in any such situation, COSON will react and we will react forcefully” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-17205537442322456512017-08-24T09:28:00.000+01:002017-08-24T09:28:36.115+01:00NIGERIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY SET TO HOLD ANNUAL ‘NO MUSIC DAY’ CELEBRATION ON SEPTEMBER 1 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgz270d7TdrmpMqoynyCM7X2j6qTbpiMgjlo2-Sy6pXMFFiIU6lQDXrZzABTUzLE0ZPjZhchqoEG60vq9QaUXlH08HQfNcn40WFf6l4S6jeanVSwPlPdnWfw-rbc6VGyv0Oa8btpPdTg/s1600/No-music-day2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="851" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgz270d7TdrmpMqoynyCM7X2j6qTbpiMgjlo2-Sy6pXMFFiIU6lQDXrZzABTUzLE0ZPjZhchqoEG60vq9QaUXlH08HQfNcn40WFf6l4S6jeanVSwPlPdnWfw-rbc6VGyv0Oa8btpPdTg/s640/No-music-day2.jpg" width="620" /></a></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6083" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6083" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6084" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;">NIGERIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY SET TO HOLD ANNUAL ‘NO MUSIC DAY’ CELEBRATION ON SEPTEMBER 1</span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6085" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6087" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6088" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6089" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6091" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6092" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Nigerian music industry has set plans in motion to mark the annual ‘No Music Day’ across Nigeria on September 1. “No Music Day” is a day the music industry has dedicated to bringing the attention of the Nigerian nation to the widespread infringement of the rights of song writers, composers, performers, music publishers, record labels and other stakeholders in the music industry.</span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6093" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6095" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6096" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6097" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6099" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6100" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;">With the theme, ‘‘Music for National Stability’’, The “No Music Day” 2017 celebration is aimed at building significant public awareness and support for the new national fight against piracy of music, movies, literature, broadcast content, software, etc, which is undermining investments in the Nigerian creative industry.</span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6101" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6103" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6104" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Speaking on the theme of this year’s event, renowned Intellectual Property activist and Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji said “Every year, in marking ‘No Music Day’, our objective has been to engage the Nigerian people and the various governments on the potential contributions of Nigerian music to the socio-economic development of the Nigerian nation and the necessity to fully deploy the substantial comparative advantage which our nation possesses in this area, so as to provide hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs to the teeming masses of Nigerian youth who parade the streets of our country with little hope. I have no doubt that if the right environment is created in Nigeria, the enormous creative energy exhibited by our young people will be released to the amazement of the world”</span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6105" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6107" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6108" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6109" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6111" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6112" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;">On the COSON ‘Music for National Stability’ project, Chief Okoroji said, ‘‘The project will among other vital things, activate a forceful campaign against hate speech in Nigeria, which is threatening ethnic harmony and peace in the country, and also enhance the vigorous promotion of the Nigerian Music Industry, so as to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s GDP.’’</span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6113" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6115" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6116" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6117" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6119" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6120" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Speaking also on “No Music Day” 2017, Ace singer and Queen of love, Azeezat Allen said “We are planning seriously to make “No Music Day” 2017 a memorable event. COSON and the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition are counting on the support of Nigerians to make this the biggest “No Music Day” event ever held. It is time we took the music business seriously in Nigeria, to enable us unleash the creative ingenuity of our people and create a better environment for creative minds to thrive.”</span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6121" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6123" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6124" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6125" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6127" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6128" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;">In commemoration of “No Music Day”, as has become the practice, broadcast stations across Nigeria have been requested not to broadcast music between the hours of 8am and 10am on Friday, September 1, 2017 as a mark of solidarity with the nation’s creative industry whose potential has been limited by massive copyright infringement. Rather than broadcast music, the stations have been asked to dedicate the 8 am to 10 am time belt to the broadcast of interviews, documentaries, debates and discussions that focus on the rights of creative people and the potential contributions of creative activities to the national economy. Newspapers and magazines across the country are also requested to publish special features on these issues in the coming days.</span><span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6129" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6131" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6132" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br class="" id="m_-4768579571799630095ydp9b907eb7yiv0398402437yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503488370061_6133" style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Nigerian public is requested to tune in to different domestic radio and television stations on September 1 to engage members and affiliates of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and other music industry experts who will spread out to different broadcast stations to discuss “Music for National Stability” as the Nigerian nation seeks alternative sources of income to replace the dwindling oil revenue.</span></div>
COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-84562062856256352882017-08-17T11:57:00.000+01:002017-08-17T11:57:24.966+01:00MUSIC STAR KENNY SAINT BEST UNVEILS O'GOODNESS FOOD COURT WITH DELICACIES NAMED AFTER NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMykNlRqQA9k5A2PULmdVFqaB1tk-Ni_NRWUKXwXjEeDpVDU1b8b8CYBbcRSSuFt5e_qjsRLn3Lnk8heC6doIpXppJTJnOyrAcjVxzBmnsWn8DU30xjwfV7L9ErP_7BCEr7kso_1zEYY/s1600/IMG_20170816_154539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMykNlRqQA9k5A2PULmdVFqaB1tk-Ni_NRWUKXwXjEeDpVDU1b8b8CYBbcRSSuFt5e_qjsRLn3Lnk8heC6doIpXppJTJnOyrAcjVxzBmnsWn8DU30xjwfV7L9ErP_7BCEr7kso_1zEYY/s640/IMG_20170816_154539.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenny Ogungbe, KSB, Moji Dokpesi and Chinedu Chukwuji</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Nigerian award winning gospel star, KSB who has been in the news, riding on the waves of her new book 'Stop! Turn it around' has on Wednesday August 16, 2017 opened her O'GOODNESS FOOD COURT in Ikeja, Lagos State.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCaRZBuKbyupv_SPOmsdSVPx9FWsHfI3gDpkTy0VUYqmSIdzv0vXBM125EA21ATp00PYXlxXWqqkROKLpijvEDG4PbpVlrvp2Whx9S400-2BSgRXTgzf0i2PbSK2ncdH4T0-moXGoS3o/s1600/IMG_20170817_101408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="693" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCaRZBuKbyupv_SPOmsdSVPx9FWsHfI3gDpkTy0VUYqmSIdzv0vXBM125EA21ATp00PYXlxXWqqkROKLpijvEDG4PbpVlrvp2Whx9S400-2BSgRXTgzf0i2PbSK2ncdH4T0-moXGoS3o/s640/IMG_20170817_101408.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The opening ceremony which had prominent personalities present such as Chief (Mrs) Mojisola Dokpesi, Kennis FM founder, Kenny 'Keke' Ogungbe, Pastor Nike Onuorah, COSON General Manager/C.E.O, Chinedu Chukwuji, Royalty Records C.E.O, Prince Stanley Williams, among others, was held at Plaza 54, Olowu road, Ikeja; same building housing the food cafe.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pst Onuorah giving an exaltation</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Giving a short exaltation, Pastor Nike Onuorah encouraged the singer to commit her works unto God, she further rejoiced with the music star on the establishment of her long wished desire, stating that this was a pointer to God's faithfulness.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chief Moji Dokpesi declaring the food cafe open</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This was followed by the official opening, accompanied with series of prayers which was done by sister to the singer, Chief Mrs Dokpesi.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moji Dokpesi, Kenny Ogungbe, KSB and her 2 children</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Speaking on what inspired the name, the singer who was visibly excited</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> said 'I know that people crave for good food and when you taste a good food, you are likely to exclaim O' GOODNESS!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On the delicacies available at the food cafe, she said 'The best jollof ever is here, we serve the best ofada rice and sauce, We serve the best Don jazzy, if you want to know what Don Jazzy is, then you should visit O'GOODNESS!, we also have special meals for people who are diabetic, we have swallow. But let me tell you a secret, the best bet here is Jenifa, i can guarantee you that you'd exclaim O'GOODNESS!! after having this meal'.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prince Stanley Williams with KSB</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Guest were then treated to some sumptuous O'GOODNESS meals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) congratulates KSB and wishes her well in her latest endeavour. </span></div>
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<br />COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-82516330432624815002017-08-15T10:01:00.000+01:002017-08-15T10:01:03.796+01:00OKOROJI UNVEILS THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE BIG COSON WEEK 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">OKOROJI UNVEILS THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE BIG COSON WEEK 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">It is no longer news that The COSON Week which takes place every two years will hold from October 29 to November 4, 2017 and during the week, there will be 7 captivating events at 7 special venues over 7 days all over the city of Lagos which is being promoted as the entertainment capital of the continent and a major tourism hub. That is why the catch phrase of the 2017 COSON Week is “777!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">As the COSON Week explodes, there will be music all over the city: in the church, in the mosque, on the streets and in the most enchanting venues available to Lagos and much of these events will be broadcast live on several channels and will reverberate across the nation and across the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Speaking at the end of the recent Banking Industry Stakeholders Forum on Copyright held at the magnificent new COSON House in Ikeja, the chairman of the wave making Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, announced the core objectives of COSON Week 2017. Chief Okoroji who was recently presented with ‘the Pillar of Entertainment in Nigeria’ award, said that apart from the massive entertainment that will be unleashed by hundreds of Nigerian musicians, young and old, to reduce the political and economic stress being felt by millions across the country, the COSON Week 2017 will be targeted at achieving specific objectives. The key objectives of the COSON Week 2017 according to the celebrated former president of PMAN are to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"> a)</span> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">build significant public awareness and support for the new national fight against piracy of music, movies, literature, broadcast content, software, etc, which is undermining investments in the Nigerian creative industry;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif;"> </span>c) </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">vigorously promote the Nigerian Music Industry to contribute more meaningfully to the nation’s GDP;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif;"> </span>d)</span> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">sell the Nigerian nation to the world as an important tourist destination;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif;"> </span>e) </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">support the <b><i>COSON Music Foundation</i></b> set up to assist old or indigent artistes or musicians in distress<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">According to Okoroji, “we are getting significant support from practically every serious media organization in the country: NTA, FRCN, Hip TV, Soundcity, ONTV, Galaxy TV, Brila FM, BISCON TV, Beat FM, Classic FM, Cool FM, Wazobia FM, STV, Rhythm, City People, Encomium, Yes Magazine and many-many others across Nigeria. With our integrated social media operation, we are constructing an unprecedented multi-million-naira media backbone to ensure that the reverberations of the COSON Week 2017 are felt everywhere across the nation and the world”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Rockwell, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Okoroji appealed to the banks and all socially responsible organizations and brands in Nigeria to fully support COSON Week 2017. According to the author of ‘Copyright & the New Millionaires’, “we all have a big stake in the stability, survival and progress of the Nigerian nation and cannot wait until the falcon can no longer hear the falconer. We just need to look at the misery that comes with the failure of nations to understand that no investments we make towards the stability of Nigeria is too much. I have had very deep and frank discussions with the Honorable Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on our ‘Music for National Stability’ initiative. He was indeed the one who called me to pledge support for what we are doing. I believe that he gets it. Let me make it clear that I have never belonged to any political party and that we seek the support of all Nigerians irrespective of their political inclinations. We want a peaceful and stable nation in which our children can dream and grow”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-17147230048282354012017-05-08T15:53:00.000+01:002017-05-08T15:53:10.697+01:00THE BAD LOSERS AT MCSN WANT A REPLAY OF A MATCH THEY LOST 7 YEARS AGO!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">SATURDAY BREAKFAST with TONY OKOROJI</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">THE BAD LOSERS AT MCSN WANT A REPLAY OF A MATCH THEY LOST 7 YEARS AGO!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The finals were played on May 20, 2010. The trophy was won. The spectators have long gone home. The referee has since retired from the game. Suddenly, the very bad losers at MCSN want a match that was won and lost 7 years ago to be replayed!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In their always shifting arguments, they now want 2 trophies so they can have one!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In 2009, three organizations applied to be approved as collective management organizations for the music industry. They were COSON, MCSN and WASPAN. Each of the organizations very well knew that with the provisions of the law, only one of them would be approved. There would be only one trophy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When the result was announced on May 20, 2010, expectedly, COSON was approved. COSON was approved because it had the full support of the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition backed by 10 of the biggest national associations in the industry including PMAN, NARI, MORAN, PMRS, AMB.PRO, MUPMAN, etc. COSON also had by far the largest spread of membership and repertoire of music in Nigeria. Mr Adebambo Adewopo who was Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission when COSON was approved by the NCC was a well-known MCSN lawyer. The fact that Adewopo authorized the approval of COSON is instructive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Upon the approval of COSON, WASPAN, one of the applicants for approval readily agreed to work with COSON. Despite repeated appeal to MCSN by COSON for all to work together in the interest of the Nigerian music industry, MCSN refused and decided to go to court to contest their loss.</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Despite their non-approval, MCSN also continued to collect royalties in defiance of the law. At a point, the MCSN argument changed and became: ’we do not require an approval to collect royalties. We are not a CMO but “owners, assignee and exclusive licensees”! This was the same organization that applied for a CMO license and lost. Of course, MCSN lost this incredibly convoluted argument at the Court of Appeal. They went to the Supreme Court and their case was struck out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">MCSN even went to court to challenge the registration of COSON by the Corporate Affairs Commission. They lost.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">MCSN went ahead to challenge the constitutionality of the provisions of Section 39 of the Copyright Act which prescribes only one approved CMO for each class of works. Their argument? The provisions of Section 39 abridged their rights to freedom of association.</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In Suit No. FHC/L/CS/478/08, MCSN sought a declaration that Section 39 of the Copyright Act is unconstitutional, null and void. Justice I.M. Sani of the Federal High Court disagreed with them. They lost. They appealed Justice Sani’s decision. In Appeal No: CA/L/575/09, the Court of Appeal in another unanimous judgment vehemently disagreed with MCSN ruling that the provisions of the Copyright Act are constitutional. MCSN once again lost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">MCSN ignored the several rulings of the courts and continued to collect copyright royalties without approval. It was then that officers of the Nigerian Copyright Commission went to their office in Lagos and arrested their CEO, Mr. Mayo Ayilaran and six of his staff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Most people will remember the scatting media campaign mounted by MCSN against the NCC. They said that the arrest of their officers was an infringement of their fundamental human rights. The matter once again went up to the Court of Appeal and the court in CAL/L/350/2013 (NCC v MCSN, Mayo Ayilaran & 6 others) unanimously ruled that the arrest was very much in order. Once again, MCSN lost. Finally, the shit had hit the fan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To escape criminal trial in the 7 cases brought against them before different judges of the Federal High Court, Ayilaran and MCSN hatched a new plan to penetrate the Federal Ministry of Justice where they used an aid to the HAGF to concoct the directive that MCSN should be approved with zero adherence to the rule of law and due process and that the 7 criminal cases against MCSN and its officers should be quashed! They want an ‘approval’ in 2017 to wipe away offences committed as far back as 2012 when clearly MCSN had no approval. Wow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Their new media campaign about ‘monopoly’ is diversionary. There is no question that if MCSN had been the only CMO approved in 2010, Ayilaran and MCSN would have widely celebrated the approval and will not be talking about ‘monopoly’. The Nigerian music industry has tasted multiple CMOs before. It did not work. The industry came together to back one CMO which was approved seven years ago and which has been professional, transparent, accountable and one of the most admired in the African continent. Suddenly, Mayo Ayilaran and his MCSN gang want a replay of a match that was won and lost seven years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In fourteen days, specifically on May 20, the cream of Nigeria will come together to commission the ultra-modern COSON House in the heart of Ikeja. COSON House will be a symbol that ours is not a jinxed profession. Thousands of musicians across the country are happy that we will no longer be paying rent. Finally, Nigerian musicians have a beautiful place we can call our own. The magnificent building is called ‘COSON House’ and not ‘Tony Okoroji House’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nearly 25 years ago, I did everything possible to have the PMAN Plaza built for musicians in Abuja. We acquired a piece of choice land, put together fantastic architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical and other designs. We syndicated the financing for the project and even began the foundation. I remember clearly those who stormed PMAN Headquarters in Ikeja one afternoon to disrupt a meeting of the financing group. That was the day I decided to walk away from PMAN. Where is the PMAN Plaza today? I even hear that in shady circumstances, they have sold the land which I acquired for Nigerian musicians and that they pocketed the money.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some of the same people who wrecked the PMAN Plaza are back. Driven by bad belle and fuelled by their MCSN mentality, they cannot see anything good in COSON House. That is their prerogative. I was at the COSON House site yesterday as I have been every day for months. There is still an incredible amount of work going on but COSON House is standing! Glory be to the Almighty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">See you next week....</span></div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-32059023357266599922017-05-08T15:23:00.002+01:002017-05-08T15:23:41.151+01:00NIGERIAN SINGER TOBY GREY CLOCKS 23 TODAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF5tY2yfdsYJ1YPnMmbL9hPWzCwWBTo7rRrTAHKrbA6e75e9-FBx1d3-iZN402HeJKnlChgxw-Gjn1b1FltEpndydW528t28Get3tZqAQ0LI9n-kxbG6S32WJJyThYjUzhD4VKOQM7e0/s1600/Screenshot_2017-05-08-14-48-56-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF5tY2yfdsYJ1YPnMmbL9hPWzCwWBTo7rRrTAHKrbA6e75e9-FBx1d3-iZN402HeJKnlChgxw-Gjn1b1FltEpndydW528t28Get3tZqAQ0LI9n-kxbG6S32WJJyThYjUzhD4VKOQM7e0/s640/Screenshot_2017-05-08-14-48-56-1.png" width="516" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today, May 8 is Nigerian singer Toby Grey's birthday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The beautiful songstress whose real names are Adeyemi Tobilola Maryam, clocks 23 today.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH43koWwxP-_mhLSaEfFx3mbElapTIWFVq2Cz8JG7gDE3C3egcDAFXf_yIhs17c5MshbfCds8EfwhD9NqnEMezLC3wn2GtJMgxw3VR_-K0dkRihtIItp5yMkFrYvdptGO45OYpFBgrrRM/s1600/Screenshot_2017-05-08-14-49-05-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH43koWwxP-_mhLSaEfFx3mbElapTIWFVq2Cz8JG7gDE3C3egcDAFXf_yIhs17c5MshbfCds8EfwhD9NqnEMezLC3wn2GtJMgxw3VR_-K0dkRihtIItp5yMkFrYvdptGO45OYpFBgrrRM/s640/Screenshot_2017-05-08-14-49-05-1.png" width="518" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Happy Birthday Tobi Grey, from all of us at COSON.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Watch her latest video below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Na U - Toby Grey ft Soma </span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1CF3pk4_OxM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1CF3pk4_OxM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-90628550323420601732017-05-08T15:06:00.000+01:002017-05-08T15:06:02.638+01:00KSB SET TO RELEASE BOOK TITLED ''STOP! TURN IT AROUND'' TODAY <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IkwTJE0JiyOxB9AuYZlT5e92f8PZe673BJyNupABSzjjT4TIZN9EcgcVUF5woMOT0LJwpvISsgKkd4kfix_uJh6Qvg9wJYUj_m5ZkW3ar0TLcr3ndGXY9Q-XtXyCeWR_JhhqaMEjY4w/s1600/PhotoGrid_1475768032908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IkwTJE0JiyOxB9AuYZlT5e92f8PZe673BJyNupABSzjjT4TIZN9EcgcVUF5woMOT0LJwpvISsgKkd4kfix_uJh6Qvg9wJYUj_m5ZkW3ar0TLcr3ndGXY9Q-XtXyCeWR_JhhqaMEjY4w/s640/PhotoGrid_1475768032908.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Music star and staunch COSON member, Kenny Saint Best, who is now an ordained Pastor, is set for her first book launch today.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The much anticipated book titled 'STOP! TURN IT AROUND' will be launched today, Monday May 8, 2017 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos by 5 pm and is expected to pull the creme da la creme of the society.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Watch</span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fmoOkgGdVAw/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fmoOkgGdVAw?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-84828842184885905592017-05-08T11:49:00.000+01:002017-05-08T11:49:19.952+01:00OKOROJI APPOINTED PATRON OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW CLUB OF O.A.U. ILE IFE<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMPAYd-fWjry_MKC5253H9l5hRHpSmsLXgsn8gDqvVvwYImKukjK8KWWCZc9vOY5wgxy9WhShz_Yp56JGY_iuZwhugedsci7CHn0PbQe2REtxWqEswrc7SLFqVQtqWfXsP808x4fhfng/s1600/Chief+Okoroji+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMPAYd-fWjry_MKC5253H9l5hRHpSmsLXgsn8gDqvVvwYImKukjK8KWWCZc9vOY5wgxy9WhShz_Yp56JGY_iuZwhugedsci7CHn0PbQe2REtxWqEswrc7SLFqVQtqWfXsP808x4fhfng/s640/Chief+Okoroji+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Chief
Tony Okoroji, Chairman Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) who is one of
Africa’s best known experts on Intellectual Property and an untiring campaigner
for the respect of the rights of creative people across the continent, has been
appointed Patron of the Intellectual Property Law Club of Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile Ife.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In a letter
just received by Chief Okoroji, the author of the book, ‘Copyright & the
New Millionaires’, the President of the club, Miss Oluwatomisin Winner Apata
wrote, “Words aren’t enough to express our deepest gratitude for your work of
inestimable value in the field of Intellectual Property. You’ve not only fought
through thick and thin to make Intellectual Property what it is today in
Nigeria but you’ve also set the pace for the coming generation. You transformed
Intellectual Property and brought it out from its world devoid of form or
recognition and made it a force to be reckoned with, a topic that can if given
a chance transform the Nigerian Economy.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“As
part of our appreciation sir, the Intellectual Property Law Club O.A.U. has
decided to appoint you as our Patron subject to your approval sir. We’re a club
with a vision of educating the society on the subject of Intellectual Property
and as a result resolve to be part of such struggle for the recognition of
Intellectual Property Rights, its protection and enforcement. We look forward
to seeing Nigeria on its feet again with a strong economy that allows for
creativity, recognition of such creative works and proper compensation. We
pledge our allegiance to COSON to help in every and any way we can to promote
its cause as it relates to our artists. We’d like to join the COSON family in
celebrating the unveiling of the New COSON House.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Chief
Tony Okoroji, the celebrated former president of PMAN,<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>
has accepted the appointment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-8391562165155694512017-05-05T13:47:00.000+01:002017-05-05T13:48:04.012+01:00THE MUCH TALKED ABOUT ‘6’ COSON REQUESTS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBlTtoRuQ8_1sgGPjoabLfJjnEc8Q2B_e21Jd3PvZWUzJOQ38MCv27JAL7RYATA9Y9T1ojcz6m_ZraNUdCC3_nfIUs75301mp0UzfiDLajkbcE3WDU5uRgkHAdtgd_NNavWTNYg6HxIY/s1600/6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBlTtoRuQ8_1sgGPjoabLfJjnEc8Q2B_e21Jd3PvZWUzJOQ38MCv27JAL7RYATA9Y9T1ojcz6m_ZraNUdCC3_nfIUs75301mp0UzfiDLajkbcE3WDU5uRgkHAdtgd_NNavWTNYg6HxIY/s320/6.png" width="255" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #292526; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #292526; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">They are as follows:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #292526; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #292526; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> 1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #292526; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Just
like it was done by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005, there should be an
immediate withdrawal of any letter or document suggesting or purporting that
the criminal organization run by Mayo Ayilaran and called Musical Copyright
Society Nigeria Ltd (MCSN) has been authorized or approved to collect royalties
on behalf of innocent Nigerian musicians and other music industry stakeholders or
to operate in Nigeria as a collective management organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #292526;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> 2. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #292526; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">No
further attempt should be allowed to be made by any official of the Federal
Government to scuttle or torpedo the ongoing criminal trial of Mayo Ayilaran
and MCSN Ltd in the 7 different cases before several judges of the Federal High
Court, Lagos. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #292526; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> 3. Mr
Ayilaran who is presently on bail and MCSN Ltd should be diligently prosecuted
and their prosecution should be transparent and open as deserving of every
Nigerian citizen and no pressure whatsoever should be brought on any of the
judges before whom they are being prosecuted so that at the end of the day, it
will be established whether they are indeed guilty or not of the crimes of
which they have been accused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #292526; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> 4. Mr.
Saliu Othman Isah and Mr. Sylvester Imhanobe, implicated in the misuse of their
closeness to the Attorney-General of the Federation in the clandestine effort
to wreck the criminal trial of Mayo Ayilaran and MCSN Ltd, and who may have
inflicted a big stain on President Buhari’s war against corruption should be
suspended immediately from office and a proper investigation be carried out on
their activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #292526; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> 5. An
urgent and thorough audit should be carried out on the staff of the Federal
Ministry of Justice to fish out the moles within the system and to ensure that
there are no other persons in the employ of the ministry who are deploying the
enormous powers of the AGF in the pursuit of objectives that are against
national interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> 6. The AGF should keep the promise
he made to a COSON delegation in November 2016 to strengthen the copyright
system in the country so that the system can effectively protect and promote
creative enterprise in the nation and ensure that the Nigerian economy benefits
from the creative ingenuity of Nigerian citizens and those interested in
investing in our creative industries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-67275441549226430872017-05-05T13:27:00.000+01:002017-05-05T13:27:22.737+01:00THE ‘COSON HOUSE’ DREAM BECOMES A REALITY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8G8GQ6L1B0bPt3Im10qJMoGjiqIU9wJnTz9zY9vfjWmH-7v5KG88LHsFeD2crJeaAOPjtGg3HcH299zqFaD5xJMUzQQdRAGMs-Wq9cwMAQPmR3nNwRS-OhJ4wyjm48ap7Ae60BxAJVio/s1600/COSON+art.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8G8GQ6L1B0bPt3Im10qJMoGjiqIU9wJnTz9zY9vfjWmH-7v5KG88LHsFeD2crJeaAOPjtGg3HcH299zqFaD5xJMUzQQdRAGMs-Wq9cwMAQPmR3nNwRS-OhJ4wyjm48ap7Ae60BxAJVio/s640/COSON+art.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In a few weeks, precisely on
May 20, 2017 the ultra-modern ‘COSON HOUSE’ will be commissioned at Oluwaleyimu
Street, off Allen Avenue in Ikeja. For several months, construction has been
going on practically 24 hours every day to ensure that COSON House is ready to
mark the 7<sup>th</sup> Anniversary of the copyright revolution in the Nigerian
music industry which began with the government approval of COSON on May 20,
2010.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Saturday May 20, we will not just be celebrating the opening of
a new building in Lagos. We will be celebrating the culmination of a life time
of struggle for every artiste and every creative person in Nigeria to whom
COSON House belongs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those who are close certainly
understand the level of sacrifice and pain it has taken to get to a place where
Copyright Society of Nigeria is working for otherwise hapless musicians across
the nation and across the world and fighting their fights. Those of you who are
close understand the let downs and betrayals on every mile of this struggle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">COSON HOUSE may not be seen as
a significant achievement in other professions and industries where access to
resources is not so difficult and stable structures have existed over time. In
the Nigerian creative sector ravaged by instability and low expectations
however, to assemble the consensus and drive the resources for such an
undertaking in the present economic situation, is not a joke. The commissioning
of COSON House is therefore a very momentous event for every Nigerian artiste. Many
might not know but COSON House is the first real property of any significance
owned by any organization, association or union in the history of the Nigerian
creative sector.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According to COSON Chairman,
Chief Tony Okoroji, ‘it is instructive that we did not get one Naira assistance
from the federal government or any Nigerian government at all to finance COSON
House. We did not get one dollar from any donor agency or any foreign
institution to build COSON House. It is also instructive that we did not take a
loan of any type from any bank to finance COSON House. I am proud to say that
when the ultra- modern COSON House is commissioned on May 20, we will not be
owing a penny on the building or on any of the facilities contained therein.
The building and facilities within COSON House fully belong to musicians across
Nigeria and other stakeholders in the music industry, forever without any
encumbrance whatsoever.’’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The COSON House is not just set
up a building that will house the corporate headquarters but has assembled
compact facilities for study, research, training, retraining and continuous
dissemination of information that will ensure that the concept of intellectual
property takes root in our fatherland and that Nigeria becomes an important
player in the new global knowledge economy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In COSON House, a hub has been
created for all those who want to understand the intriguing subject of
copyright and other forms of intellectual property. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is therefore with joy that
we call on you and every Nigerian to celebrate with us on May 20 as we rejoice over
the commissioning of COSON House. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197701787900864137.post-55556939947359456512017-05-05T13:05:00.000+01:002017-05-05T13:05:58.651+01:00COSON LAWYERS DECLARE ‘WAR’ ON OPE BANWO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWXpe6Mgk-uGfeKELeWD4i0iMtAb-QJTcrLBV1RN5s3efgijVlqxMS6iJLcNs5c1QtRCYXKs-x2McbG3dy7nbwbFfG_4rF00ugibwt1Xun1VzlmRCYYCpm8bouz_TBxL3Xt4hE7GWO3E/s1600/COSON+art.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWXpe6Mgk-uGfeKELeWD4i0iMtAb-QJTcrLBV1RN5s3efgijVlqxMS6iJLcNs5c1QtRCYXKs-x2McbG3dy7nbwbFfG_4rF00ugibwt1Xun1VzlmRCYYCpm8bouz_TBxL3Xt4hE7GWO3E/s640/COSON+art.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lawyers to Copyright Society of
Nigeria (COSON) acting also on behalf of Chief Tony Okoroji, the society’s
Chairman, have demanded </span><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">a retraction of recent statements made by Mr. Ope Banwo
against COSON and Chief Okoroji. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmH7P92G2wNWA6rC_KzxrRbH9IxqKXkkTCeO9KxcY00OvxDebwgUMFCn4S6o_KE2gZgcstXONQQH8lxnr7_yVAKwdF2O5SinmPSX9nkWMFnR1hMSgPhO29zCN1PcpeDkiRgJAud5R3kw/s1600/Chief+Okoroji+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmH7P92G2wNWA6rC_KzxrRbH9IxqKXkkTCeO9KxcY00OvxDebwgUMFCn4S6o_KE2gZgcstXONQQH8lxnr7_yVAKwdF2O5SinmPSX9nkWMFnR1hMSgPhO29zCN1PcpeDkiRgJAud5R3kw/s640/Chief+Okoroji+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chief Tony Okoroji</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">They have also demanded that Mr. Banwo tender a
conspicuous and unreserved apology to Chief Tony Okoroji and COSON on Facebook
and four Nigerian newspapers, namely, the Guardian, the Sun, the Punch and
Vanguard within seven days. The lawyers have furthermore demanded that Mr.
Banwo pay the sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) to Chief
Okoroji and another N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) to COSON for
what the lawyers have described as significant injury caused by Mr. Banwo to
Chief Okoroji and COSON.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFLNFkeJHfYag2T7pLQu_VTD0ZcuxXLfAw4MUxjMjYLyzCELigHIE6WHxLVqsLiC0ZftSrS0hvoGRPA-5C4bz6oKNQ-PKxI6Q8YiwSWqPUML_woNoHmgPUc1OKB4EdCFlcnl7ItalzqA/s1600/OPE-BANWO-300X269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFLNFkeJHfYag2T7pLQu_VTD0ZcuxXLfAw4MUxjMjYLyzCELigHIE6WHxLVqsLiC0ZftSrS0hvoGRPA-5C4bz6oKNQ-PKxI6Q8YiwSWqPUML_woNoHmgPUc1OKB4EdCFlcnl7ItalzqA/s640/OPE-BANWO-300X269.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Ope Banwo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A letter dated May 5, 2017 sent
to Mr. Banwo and signed by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Justin Ige of CREATIVE LEGAL, Seun
Omotoba & Co, says: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">‘We refer to your widely circulated publication
on Facebook titled <b><i>“TIME TO BLOW WHISTLE ON TONI OKOROJI: HOW DID TONY OKOROJI SPEND OVER
N300, 000, 000.00 IN COPYRIGHT ROYALTIES COLLECTED ON BEHALF OF NIGERIAN
ARTISTES” </i></b>and other vile statements you have repeatedly published in the
last fortnight against our Clients.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">‘By the said publications, you have made
several blatantly false, baseless and malicious statements including innuendos
which were clearly intended by you to lower the hard won reputation of our
Clients and to incite stakeholders in the Nigerian music industry to revolt
against our Clients and to distort and destroy their legacies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">‘Our Clients have also been informed that
having not been invited and not being a member of Copyright Society of Nigeria
(COSON) and not having any genuine business to do at COSON, you on Friday 28
April 2017 stormed the offices of COSON at Omodara Street, Opebi Lagos and
without anyone’s permission and with a smartphone began to livestream the
images of the staff of COSON at work and the premises of our Clients on the
Internet accompanied by very vile, false and inciteful statements and
commentaries made by you against our Clients also clearly intended to engineer
a revolt against our Clients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">‘We are informed that you are a lawyer and as a
lawyer, you ought to know better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">‘We have been instructed by our Clients to
demand and we hereby demand a retraction of the false and injurious statements
you have published against our Clients and to tender a conspicuous and
unreserved apology to our Clients published on Facebook and in the Guardian
Newspaper, the Sun Newspaper, the Punch and Vanguard Newspapers within 7
(seven) days of receipt of this letter. Furthermore, you are to pay to each of
our clients the sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira each) for the
significant injury you have caused our Clients. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">‘Be informed that if you fail, refuse or
neglect to meet the demands of our Clients, our instructions are to deploy
every instrument and process allowed by the laws of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria to seek redress against you’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">It will be recalled that it was the same Mr.
Justin Ige of Creative Legal that won the famous victories for Chief Tony
Okoroji against singer, Onyeka Onwenu in two landmark defamation cases at the
High Court of Lagos State and at the Court of Appeal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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COPYRIGHT SOCIETY OF NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052835849672693542noreply@blogger.com0