Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in
Lagos has fixed October 16, 2013 for the commencement of trial
in a N120 million copyright suit filed against popular music star,
Innocent Idibia, a.k.a. TuFace, his wife, Annie Idibia and their
manager, Anthonio Anifite over photographs allegedly taken at
the recent traditional wedding of the musician and his wife in
Akwa Ibom State.
Abuja based photographer, Emmanuel Okolo, who is the plaintiff
in the suit alongside his studio, Papilonmexy filed suit against
the defendants.
*Tuface and Annie Idibia during their traditional marriage
He is asking for six reliefs, two of which include N100 million in
general damages and N20million in exemplary damages.
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, neither TuFace nor
his wife was represented in court. Anifite who is the second
defendant was however represented by his counsel, J.O Uttute.
Meanwhile, a mild drama ensued when the judge openly
admonished Uttute after the latter claimed that he had filed his
defence when he had not done so.
The judge warned him not to come to this court again if he was
not prepared for the case. “You told me that you have filed your
response, but looking through here, there is nothing to that effect.
And you are even smiling. Do you think you are here to joke?
Never come to this court again if you are not prepared. You don’t
even know when the case was filed and you are not prepared for
it,” said the judge.
Also, the plaintiff’s counsel, Habeeb Oredola expressed worry
over the defendants’ inability to appear before the court or be
represented by a counsel after they were served with the writs of
summon.
In the writ of summon, Okolo and his studio claimed they were
contracted by TuFace’s wife through a third party, identified as
Ms Chineze Anyaene to take photo shots at the traditional
wedding held in Eket, Akwa Ibom state in March, 2013.
The plaintiff said, he was reluctant at the beginning since the
offer was coming through a third party, but later accepted after
he was convinced that the offer was actually with the blessing of
the first defendant.
Annie Idibia was said to have later contacted the photographer
after the wedding and demanded for the printing of 10 of the high
resolution pictures taken.