Banky W hails 2Face, joins call for audit of COSON accounts

LAGOS, Nigeria – R&B singer, Banky Wellington has said that Innocent Idibia, otherwise called 2Baba is justified in calling for complete audit of the accounts of Copyright Society of Nigeria(COSON).

Banky Wellington who condemned the response of COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji to the call for independent audit said the response of Okoroji is not only belittling but insulting.

According to him, it is wrong for Okoroji to say that Idibia made the call because the factional chairman of COSON, Efe Omorogbe is his manager. He said a well managed COSON will make musicians comfortable in life and in death.

“We’ve seen so many of our icons ascend to the highest heights, only to end up in illness and abject poverty, because their Intellectual Property was never properly paid for.

“In Nigeria, most musicians are only as wealthy as their last performance. There’s a reason why the catalogues of Michael Jackson and the Beatles are worth billions of dollars, while many of our greatest creators are left to rot, after their moment in the Sun. 

“A COSON that works would mean a producer like ID Cabasa would be PROPERLY compensated for co-creating Gongo Aso. It would mean that OJB Jezreel (RIP), producer of “African Queen”, wouldn’t have needed crowd-or-celebrity-funding to pay his medical bills”, he said.

Banky Wellington condemned Okorojo for constituting himself as life Chairman of COSON.  

“Chief Tony Okoroji has been Chairman of COSON since 2009, and has spearheaded many important strides taken. However, a leadership position in society must not be allowed to become a potential retirement home.  The truest test of a man’s character is not when he is faced with adversity, but when he is given power.

“I’d like him to agree to the audit, and also put in limits on how long anyone can be in power. I hope he remembers Goodluck Jonathan: sometimes, your legacy in power is determined by how you hand it over”, he said.

See bankywellington statement below

If we don’t take steps to hold men in power accountable, we lay down the red carpet for them to abuse it.

COSON is the Copyright Society of Nigeria (our collecting society), and it has recently been embroiled in all kinds of public & legal battles. 2 weeks ago @official2baba called for an Independent audit of COSON’s bank accounts. Allegations abound that the society went from spending 1m on security in 2017, to 31m in 2018, as well as rumours of Directors paying themselves as consultants and contractors for the Society’s events…so much so that the NCC has now suspended COSON’s operating license. 

We’ve seen so many of our icons ascend to the highest heights, only to end up in illness and abject poverty, because their Intellectual Property was never properly paid for.

In Nigeria, most musicians are only as wealthy as their last performance. There’s a reason why the catalogues of Michael Jackson and the Beatles are worth billions of dollars, while many of our greatest creators are left to rot, after their moment in the Sun. 

A COSON that works would mean a producer like ID Cabasa would be PROPERLY compensated for co-creating Gongo Aso. It would mean that OJB Jezreel (RIP), producer of “African Queen”, wouldn’t have needed crowd-or-celebrity-funding to pay his medical bills. 

2Baba is completely justified as a pioneer, living legend and major stakeholder in our Industry, to request that our society’s accounts be audited. I found the response to his request to be belittling and insulting… with the Chairman claiming that 2Baba was just trying to be on @efeomorogbe’s side, because Efe is his manager and many members have voted for Efe to replace him.

Chief Tony Okoroji has been Chairman of COSON since 2009, and has spearheaded many important strides taken. However, a leadership position in society must not be allowed to become a potential retirement home. 

The truest test of a man’s character is not when he is faced with adversity, but when he is given power. I’d like him to agree to the audit, and also put in limits on how long anyone can be in power.

I hope he remembers Goodluck Jonathan: sometimes, your legacy in power is determined by how you hand it over.