PRESS STATEMENT ON WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY, OKOROJI CALLS FOR A NEW NIGERIA DRIVEN BY CREATIVITY AND KNOWLEDGE

PRESS STATEMENT

ON WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY, OKOROJI CALLS FOR A NEW NIGERIA DRIVEN BY CREATIVITY AND KNOWLEDGE

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.

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

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

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”.

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.

MUSIC INDUSTRY ICON, CHRIS AJILO, CALLS ON FG TO AWARD COSON CHAIRMAN, CHIEF TONY OKOROJI, ONE OF NIGERIA’S HIGHEST HONOURS

MUSIC INDUSTRY ICON, CHRIS AJILO, CALLS ON FG TO AWARD COSON CHAIRMAN, CHIEF TONY OKOROJI, ONE OF NIGERIA’S HIGHEST HONOURS

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.

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.

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”.

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.

“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.

“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”.

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”.

Watch EKO - by Chris Ajilo ft Banky W and Korede Sax

MORE LEGAL WAHALA FOR EFE OMOROGBE AS COSON CHAIRMAN, OKOROJI, SLAMS N212 MILLION LIBEL SUIT AGAINST HIM.

COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji

MORE LEGAL WAHALA FOR EFE OMOROGBE AS COSON CHAIRMAN, OKOROJI, SLAMS N212 MILLION LIBEL SUIT AGAINST HIM.

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.

The suit supported by a 29 paragraph Statement of Claim, several 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

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.

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.

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.

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

The suit filed by Chief Okoroji is different from the court action filed by COSON against Mr. Omorogbe.

COSON SUES EFE OMOROGBE: ASKS THAT HE STOPS PARADING HIMSELF AS AN OFFICER OF COSON OR CHAIRMAN

COSON SUES EFE OMOROGBE: ASKS THAT HE STOPS PARADING HIMSELF AS AN OFFICER OF COSON OR CHAIRMAN

Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has gone to court against a former member of its Board, Mr. Efe Omorogbe.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Sir Shina Peters

“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.

“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”

SIR VICTOR UWAIFO FIRES NCC DG, EZEKUDE OVER COSON (LETTER ATTACHED)

BREAKING NEWS!!! COSON DECLARES VICTORY DESPITE BUBA’S JUDGEMENT AND PROMISES IMMEDIATE & VIGOROUS APPEAL IN CASE AGAINST AGF MALAMI & MCSN

BREAKING NEWS!!!

COSON DECLARES VICTORY DESPITE BUBA’S JUDGEMENT AND PROMISES IMMEDIATE & VIGOROUS APPEAL IN CASE AGAINST AGF MALAMI & MCSN

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.

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.

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.

“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 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. 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”

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”.

BREAKING NEWS!!! LAGOS LAWYER, OPE BANWO, IN HOT SOUP AS COSON & OKOROJI SLAM ‘MOTHER OF ALL LIBEL SUITS’ AGAINST HIM

BREAKING NEWS!!!

LAGOS LAWYER, OPE BANWO, IN HOT SOUP AS COSON & OKOROJI SLAM  ‘MOTHER OF ALL LIBEL SUITS’ AGAINST HIM

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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”

OKOROJI UNVEILS THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE BIG COSON WEEK 2017

OKOROJI UNVEILS THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE BIG COSON WEEK 2017

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!”

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.

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:

   a)  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;

 b) mount a forceful campaign against hate speech in Nigeria which is threatening ethnic harmony and peace in the country;

 c) vigorously promote the Nigerian Music Industry to contribute more meaningfully to the nation’s GDP;

  d)   sell the Nigerian nation to the world as an important tourist destination;

 e) support the COSON Music Foundation set up to assist old or indigent artistes or musicians in distress

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”

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”

THE BAD LOSERS AT MCSN WANT A REPLAY OF A MATCH THEY LOST 7 YEARS AGO!

SATURDAY BREAKFAST with TONY OKOROJI

THE BAD LOSERS AT MCSN WANT A REPLAY OF A MATCH THEY LOST 7 YEARS AGO!

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!

In their always shifting arguments, they now want 2 trophies so they can have one!

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.

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.

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.

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.

MCSN even went to court to challenge the registration of COSON by the Corporate Affairs Commission. They lost.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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’

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.

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.

See you next week....

OKOROJI APPOINTED PATRON OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW CLUB OF O.A.U. ILE IFE

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.

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. 

“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.”

Chief Tony Okoroji, the celebrated former president of PMAN, has accepted the appointment.

COSON LAWYERS DECLARE ‘WAR’ ON OPE BANWO

Lawyers to Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) acting also on behalf of Chief Tony Okoroji, the society’s Chairman, have demanded a retraction of recent statements made by Mr. Ope Banwo against COSON and Chief Okoroji.

Chief Tony Okoroji

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.

Mr Ope Banwo

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:

‘We refer to your widely circulated publication on Facebook titled “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” and other vile statements you have repeatedly published in the last fortnight against our Clients.

‘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.

‘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.

‘We are informed that you are a lawyer and as a lawyer, you ought to know better.

‘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.

‘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’.

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.