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BREAKING: Court Orders Airtel Nigeria To Pay N210Million For Unauthorised Use Of Veteran Singer Mbanefo’s ‘Nigeria Go Survive’

The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, has ordered Airtel Nigeria to pay Two Hundred and Ten Million Naira (N210 million) to Veno Marioghae Mbanefo for copyright infringement.

Presiding Judge Honourable Justice Ibrahim Kala handed down the judgment after finding that Airtel Nigeria unlawfully used Mbanefo’s song, “Nigeria Go Survive,” without her authorisation.

The ruling marks a significant legal victory for the artist and underscores the enforcement of intellectual property rights in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

In September 2022, the singer sued the telecommunications company, Airtel Network Limited for “unauthorised use” of her musical work.

In a statement sent to SaharaReporters at the time, the veteran singer said she “found out a few months ago, that Airtel had been using my song, ‘Nigeria Go Survive,’ to market their products, using their telemarketing numbers, without my permission.

“Following the discovery, I contacted my lawyer, Rockson Igelige of Felix, Igelige and Associates, who promptly wrote to them. Rather than look into our authentic claim, they responded by not only denying all culpability, but also defamed me and threatened criminal charges against me.

“We then took our case, backed by our witnesses, IT & Evaluation Specialist and evidence, to the Nigeria Copyright Commission which began an investigation into our claim.

“While the criminal investigation into our claim is still on, my lawyers and I are, however, filing a civil suit against Airtel on 23/9/22 at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos to show how they have flagrantly not only infringed on my copyright by using my song without permission, but have also brazenly denied all responsibility, despite all evidence.”

The veteran artiste earlier in a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Network Limited, Ikoyi, Lagos, accused the telecoms company of using her song, ‘Nigeria Go Survive’ to promote its TV app and ‘The Voice Nigeria’, without her permission.

The letter signed by her lawyer, R. A. Igelige Esq asked the telecoms company to “cease and desist forthwith from further infringing on the copyright of our Client to the aforementioned musical work”.

It also asked Airtel to “pay to our client the sum of N50,000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) for the unauthorised commercial and also derogatory use of her musical work”.

“Take notice that if we do not receive an adequate response within 21 days of receipt of this letter, we shall take all proper steps to seek legal remedy for our Client, including legal action for injunctive relief, criminal charges and damages, without further notice to you.

“We look forward, however, to your prompt response towards an amicable resolution of this matter,” it added.

The letter read in part, “We are solicitors to Veno Marioghae Mbanefo (our Client), a musician and entertainer residing in Lagos and we write this letter on her behalf.

“Our Client is the author and copyright owner of the musical work entitled ‘Nigeria Go Survive’ being used by your Mobile Network Company (Airtel) to promote your TV app, and also to promote ‘The Voice Nigeria.’

“Our Client’s attention has been drawn to your use, without permission or licence, of her aforementioned musical work. Specifically, you have appropriated the work to promote your TV app and also used it to advertise ‘The Voice Nigeria.’”

“By not obtaining our Client’s prior permission or licence before engaging repeatedly in this act or acts, your company’s conduct is a flagrant and deliberate infringement of her copyright. It also amounts to stealing and wilful deprivation with the intent to unjustly enrich your company and deny our Client of the legitimate fruits of her labour, thereby inflicting hardship on her,” her lawyer added.

BarrElChapo:
this is good. it wouldn't cost them 10m to seek permission but they didnt

Brendaniel:
The funny thing is sometimes these things can be sttled with smaller amount of money at the initial stage, but somehow their management sometimes start acting stubborn, before you know some lawyer activist will pick it up and start supporting the person and boom, they are paying hundreds of millions..


Imagine if they approached her with like 50 million and tell her based on their records and calculations, and if she is unwilling she can head to court, it is very likely she may have accepted and let things go.

Officialpyper:
Happy for her

I'm sure this amount is more than what she ever got from the song prior to this case

Brendaniel:
The funny thing is sometimes these things can be sttled with smaller amount of money at the initial stage, but somehow their management sometimes start acting stubborn, before you know some lawyer activist will pick it up and start supporting the person and boom, they are paying hundreds of millions..


Imagine if they approached her with like 50 million and tell her based on their records and calculations, and if she is unwilling she can head to court, it is very likely she may have accepted and let things go.

insidelife22:
See cash out

See better cash out.

Seeplusplus:
It's one thing to pass the judgement, it's another thing to implement it. Will Airtel pay? Next, they will appeal, which might take another 2years. Whatever the appeal decides, they might still not pay.

All they just need to do is give the 10m to buy protection from those that are to enforce the judgement, most likely the police.

The woman go wait tire aje

I've seen cases where a court will pass judgement on a land and the owner will still not have access to the land because the people won't give up. When you report them to the police, police will refer you back to court. When you go back to court, court will tell you to file a lawsuit of trespass.

I hope never to be in a situation where I have to be in court with anyone because that process will drain you financially, psychologically and mentally cos it might take six years .

You will never understand the level of lawlessness in this country until you find yourself in a certain situation

Mrexcell:
Very correct when the song was reigning in the late 90s there wasn't much money in the nigerian music industry.

lagosforever123:
Who told you that ? E se o, e se o, Ago juju lo fe gbo o o. Ese o . Omo Shina Peter's Cleaned out in 1990 he became a multi millionaire and is still living of that money till now.