₦airaland Forum

Our WAYMAKER song has been in the courts and we no know what oh!

After almost two years of legal battle, the Federal High Court in Lagos has finally ruled in favour of gospel singer Sinach, affirming her as the sole author and copyright owner of her global hit song, Way Maker.

The lawsuit was filed by music producer Michael Oluwole (popularly known as Maye), who claimed that he was a co-author and co-owner of the song because he recorded, mixed, mastered the track and created some instrumental accompaniments. He asked the court to declare him a co-owner, order that royalties and licensing income be shared with him, and award him ₦5 billion in damages.

However, Justice Lewis Allagoa held that the producer failed to prove that he made any original creative contribution that would make him a joint author of the song. The court found that Sinach had already written, composed and even performed “Way Maker” before Maye was engaged to mix and master the recording for its commercial release in 2015.

It also accepted evidence that he was paid for those studio services under an oral agreement. The court explained that under Nigerian copyright law, authorship belongs to the person who creates the original expressive elements of a musical work, such as the lyrics, melody, harmony or arrangement.

A producer, sound engineer or session musician does not automatically become a co-author simply because they record, mix, master or provide technical support, unless they can prove they contributed original expressive content to the work. The judge described the suit as “gold digging and unmeritorious” before dismissing it in its entirety.

Finally the case has ended, congrats to Sinach.

PRESS RELEASE

Federal High Court Dismisses Copyright Claim Against Gospel Artiste Sinach Over Hit Song "Way Maker"

Lagos, Nigeria – 24 July 2026

The Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, today dismissed a suit filed by Michael Oluwole against gospel artiste Mrs Osinachi Joseph Egbu (popularly known as Sinach) seeking declarations of co-authorship, co-ownership, and related reliefs over the globally acclaimed musical work "Way Maker."

In Suit No. FHC/L/CS/402/2024, the Plaintiff claimed to be an author and co-owner of the song, sought equitable sharing of all fees from licences and assignments, alleged infringement of performer's rights, and claimed ₦5 billion in general damages, among other reliefs.

Delivering judgment, Hon. Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that the Plaintiff failed to prove authorship or co-ownership of the musical work. The Court found that the song "Way Maker" was originally created and performed by the Defendant (including a prior performance in South Africa) before the Plaintiff was engaged to mix and master the already existing work for commercial album release in 2015. The Plaintiff was paid for those technical services under an oral agreement.

The Court emphasised that authorship under copyright law vests in the natural person who creates the original expressive content (melody, harmony, lyrics or arrangement). A producer, engineer or session contributor does not become an author merely by providing technical or instrumental support unless they create original expressive content. The Plaintiff's own evidence and admissions under examination confirmed that the Defendant brought an existing song which he then developed into a recorded musical work for a fee.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa described the Plaintiff's case as "gold-digging and unmeritorious" and dismissed the entire suit.

Counsel to the Defendant was Emeka Etiaba, SAN (with Omolola Aderolu and O.G. Ofomata). Matthew Enilobo appeared for the Plaintiff.

The Chairman of Slic Inspire Ltd and Gosgem Records, Joseph Egbu (companies that manage Sinach), together with Sinach, express profound gratitude to the legal team led by Emeka Etiaba, SAN

RollinTNDA:
She is a Thief

I have been a producer before and I can swear with my life. We thee producers are the creators of all the masterpiece you hear on radio. Sometimes we tell the artiste how to sing and what to sing.
Once the artist blow with the song. They try to take all the glory thereby removing you as co author so only her will chop money from Spotify and streams.

Your favorite song was once a bunch of instrument orchestrated and brought together by a producer. The are the hidden superstars behind the scene.

That been said Producers are co authors
And are liable to percentage of earnings
Without them you as an artiste have only voice no instruments no beat.

However, this producer only mistake was that he didn't have a publishing rights are neither was he registered. While Sinachi team had already secured her publishing rights that is why she has major hand in the project.

That is why I tell producers go and register for publishing rights so that any werey artiste that collect your beat and blow they will not be able to remove you as co authors

He probably thought Sinachi as a gospel artiste won't do no harm.. lol
Gospel artist wey be sharks for music industry. Just dey play

nlfpmod:
Source



https://www.instagram.com/p/DbdaORtjLYL/?img_index=1&igsh=MW5zOXkxZTEyZzBmcA==

RollinTNDA:
She is a Thief

I have been a producer before and I can swear with my life. We thee producers are the creators of all the masterpiece you hear on radio. Sometimes we tell the artistee how to sing and what to sing.
I have seen Olodo singers that producers help write their songs and show them which catchy lines to use to make song sweet.

Unfortunately once the artist blow with the song. They try to take all the glory thereby removing you as co author even tho na you contribute write the catchy chorus

That been said Producers are co authors
And are liable to percentage of earnings
Without them you as an artiste have only voice no instruments no beat. No catchy melody

However, this producer only mistake was that he didn't have a publishing rights are neither was he registered. While Sinachi team had already secured her publishing rights that is why she has major hand in the project. In court of law, she has upper hand since he can't prove that he contributed

Had it been he has a publishing rights. He would submit the song with proof as the producer. That is the proof the court needs

That is why I tell producers go and register for publishing rights so that any werey artiste that collect your beat and blow they will not be able to remove you as co authors

He probably thought Sinachi as a gospel artiste won't do no harm.. lol
Gospel artist wey be sharks for music industry. Just dey play

Emmolap:



If na so authorship dey work that means every producer is automatically an author of every song they produce.

I'm not a producer and I don't know anything about music. If you're a producer enlighten us and verify this.

Na so the carpenter, bricklayer ... go automatically claim co-ownership of my house after I don pay dem.

Emmolap:
Can you say something about this statement here " The court found that Sinach had already written, composed and even performed “Way Maker” before Maye was engaged to mix and master the recording for its commercial release in 2015. "

RollinTNDA:
She is a Thief

I have been a producer before and I can swear with my life. We thee producers are the creators of all the masterpiece you hear on radio. Sometimes we tell the artistee how to sing and what to sing.
I have seen Olodo singers that producers help write their songs and show them which catchy lines to use to make song sweet.

Unfortunately once the artist blow with the song. They try to take all the glory thereby removing you as co author even tho na you contribute write the catchy chorus

That been said Producers are co authors
And are liable to percentage of earnings
Without them you as an artiste have only voice no instruments no beat. No catchy melody

However, this producer only mistake was that he didn't have a publishing rights are neither was he registered. While Sinachi team had already secured her publishing rights that is why she has major hand in the project. In court of law, she has upper hand since he can't prove that he contributed

Had it been he has a publishing rights. He would submit the song with proof as the producer. That is the proof the court needs

That is why I tell producers go and register for publishing rights so that any werey artiste that collect your beat and blow they will not be able to remove you as co authors

He probably thought Sinachi as a gospel artiste won't do no harm.. lol
Gospel artist wey be sharks for music industry. Just dey play

noskcid:
Omo this mama don old man oh

femi4:
He was paid for all his troubles. What else does he want

No producer work for free

jaxxy:
Quincy jones produced for michael jackson but he only has co owners rights to songs he co wrote not just produced or else producers will own songs of all the many artists they produce.

It does work that way. Production has seperate agreement different from ownership.

RollinTNDA:
Now this is even worse for the guy

Let me explain

There is one fine babe that wanted me to mix her song. So when we finally meet in studio she sent the files and each audio stem of thee instrumental was badly recorded. Now since she couldnt do anything about it

I had to use my audio engineering skills and do digital surgery inorder to restructure the song and turn it into a polished project.

Now mind you, every sound engineer would reject such work because it is like stressing themselves to restructure and re compose the song into a proper hit.

She might come with an idea or unfinished recording and concept then the job of the producerr is to re create it and turn her jagajaga idea into a polished hit

In that process he adds new things new concepts as he is recreating the song together with sinachi
However, you can either say No to the artiste and tell her to bring a complete clean recorded audio stems for mixing.
Or
You can pity her and do extra work and re create and re compose it for her into a final son project

Now imagine going thru all that stress of creating the song for her only for her to remove you as co author

RollinTNDA:
She is a Thief

I have been a producer before and I can swear with my life. We thee producers are the creators of all the masterpiece you hear on radio. Sometimes we tell the artistee how to sing and what to sing.
I have seen Olodo singers that producers help write their songs and show them which catchy lines to use to make song sweet.

Unfortunately once the artist blow with the song. They try to take all the glory thereby removing you as co author even tho na you contribute write the catchy chorus

That been said Producers are co authors
And are liable to percentage of earnings
Without them you as an artiste have only voice no instruments no beat. No catchy melody

However, this producer only mistake was that he didn't have a publishing rights are neither was he registered. While Sinachi team had already secured her publishing rights that is why she has major hand in the project. In court of law, she has upper hand since he can't prove that he contributed

Had it been he has a publishing rights. He would submit the song with proof as the producer. That is the proof the court needs

That is why I tell producers go and register for publishing rights so that any werey artiste that collect your beat and blow they will not be able to remove you as co authors

He probably thought Sinachi as a gospel artiste won't do no harm.. lol
Gospel artist wey be sharks for music industry. Just dey play