Admin l Wednesday, February 14, 2018
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – 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 was in court as the judgment was read on Tuesday 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”, he said.
