All is not well at the Copyright Society of Nigeria. Feelers reaching us confirm that the Board of
COSON has released a statement, informing the general public that the proposed
emergency meeting of the organization planned by Chief Tony Okoroji is illegal.
In its words, the statement
reads:
“This is to advise members of
Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), music industry stakeholders and the
general public that contrary to what is being advertised, the Emergency General
Meeting scheduled for December 18, 2018 is illegal and therefore an exercise in
futility.
“Chief Tony Okoroji and his board of handpicked acolytes do not
have the legal authority to convene a COSON EGM, present an agenda for
deliberation or execute whatever resolutions are adopted. The current status is
thus: 1. Okoroji remains sacked as chairman of the board. 2. The operating
licence of the society remains suspended according to the regulator, Nigeria
Copyright Commission. 3. Okoroji and his agents are currently facing criminal
prosecution by the regulator. 4. Mareva order was issued on 30th November, 2018
on suit number FHC/L/CS/1819/2018, Premier Music Publishing Company Limited,
Ivory Music Limited and another vs COSON & Others freezing all COSON
accounts (save for staff emoluments). 5. Appeal process is on-going on the
ruling of Justice Liman J. at the Federal High Court, Enugu and until the case
is determined, Efe Omorogbe maintains his position as the legal chairman of the
legal board of COSON.
“Right owners should be rest assured that we will not relent in our
commitment to the protection of their royalties and the building of a world
class process-driven structure for collective management of copyright in music
in Nigeria.”
The signed statement is signed
by: Efe Omorogbe, Sikiru Agboola, Obi Asika, Dare Fasasi, Joel Ajayi and Audu
Maikori.
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