₦airaland Forum

Nigeria’s capitalist, Tony Elumelu may come across as a businessman and philanthropist especially with his famed Tony Elumelu foundation, but a deeper look into the recent crisis rocking one of his business interests, “Abuja Electricity Distribution Company” (AEDC) suggest the opposite. ENigeria Newspaper takes a cursory look into the lies, controversies and why over 900 workers of AEDC in conjunction with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) hours ago, picketed the Abuja headquarters of the power distribution company.

Brief Background of AEDC Acquisition by Tony Elumelu-Led Transcorp Plc.
To strengthen its foothold in the Nigerian power sector, Transcorp Plc, under the chairmanship of Tony Elumelu, acquired a 60% controlling stake in the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in August 2023, one of Nigeria’s 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos).

The acquisition followed a complex chain of financial and legal developments tied to an outstanding debt of approximately $122 million owed to United Bank for Africa UBA chaired by Tony Elumelu.

Back in 2013, KANN Consortium, the previous core investor in AEDC, had secured a 60% stake in the utility through a loan facility obtained from UBA. However, by 2021, the consortium had defaulted on its repayment obligations, triggering a high-stakes takeover process.

In December 2021, UBA exercised its rights as lender and seized the consortium’s equity stake, setting off a contentious and widely scrutinized transition. Following the takeover, the bank assumed interim control of the utility while initiating a process to divest the asset.

After months of evaluation, a consortium led by Transcorp emerged as the preferred bidder. The transaction received regulatory approval in May 2023, paving the way for the eventual transfer of the 60% stake. The acquisition was structured primarily to settle the outstanding debt exposure, effectively closing a prolonged chapter of financial distress surrounding the asset.

AEDC Crisis After Transcorp Plc Take Over
Following the 2023 acquisition of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) by Transcorp Plc, the utility has been engulfed in renewed internal crisis, raising fresh concerns about the stability of its operations under new ownership.

In 2024, the crisis deepened amid allegations that Transcorp, under the guise of restructuring, dissolved the existing management team of AEDC. While the company maintained that the move was necessary to address long-standing structural inefficiencies inherited from the previous administration, insiders who spoke to ENigeria Newspaper claimed that the takeover merely exposed and intensified pre-existing internal challenges.

Since the transition, industry observers say AEDC has struggled with persistent instability, a situation some insiders describe in local parlance as “one week, one trouble.”

Why Over 900 AEDC staff, NLC are Protesting
Tensions escalated further in November 2025 when AEDC announced the disengagement of over 900 employees, a move the company described as part of a broader restructuring initiative.

In an official statement seen by ENigeria Newspaper, management said the decision was aimed at improving efficiency and repositioning the company for better service delivery.

“In line with our corporate transformation strategy, the management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) hereby announces a restructuring exercise aimed at delivering improved services to our customers as well as enhanced operational efficiency and excellence.
“As part of the transformation, we have promoted high-performing staff, released retiring employees and those performing below par, and have put in motion the implementation of a robust employee development and customer management plan aimed at driving our customer-centric focus,” the statement read in part.
However, multiple sources within the organization have challenged this narrative, suggesting that the layoffs may be linked to the financial implications of Nigeria’s new minimum wage policy.

NLC Pickets AEDC HQ in Abuja
According to insiders, many contract and casual staff at AEDC had reportedly been earning as low as ₦40,000 monthly prior to recent adjustments. Following sustained pressure, the company allegedly reluctantly agreed to implement the new ₦70,000 minimum wage in October 2025.

ENigeria Newspaper reports that this development came after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the revised national minimum wage into law in July 2024, making compliance mandatory for employers across the country.
Sources now claim that the subsequent layoffs were a cost-containment strategy, aimed at managing the increased wage bill.

According to accounts from staff members, the restructuring plan was first disclosed during a company-wide meeting on November 3, 2025, where as many as 1,500 employees were reportedly listed for disengagement.

However, only a portion of those workers received termination letters shortly after the meeting, while subsequent media reports indicated that between 800 and 900 staff were eventually laid off.

The layoffs have since triggered strong reactions from labour groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, with protests erupting over what unions describe as unfair labour practices and mass victimization of workers.

For many observers, the situation raises a broader question about the post-privatization performance of Nigeria’s power distribution companies and whether restructuring efforts are delivering real efficiency or simply shifting operational burdens onto workers.

Two years after its high-profile takeover, AEDC under Transcorp Plc led by Tony Elumelu remains under intense scrutiny.

What was expected to mark a turnaround phase is increasingly being viewed by critics as a period marked by, internal instability, workforce downsizing, and unresolved structural challenges.

As labour unrest grows and operational questions persist, the coming months may prove decisive in determining whether Transcorp’s intervention will ultimately deliver reform… or further controversy. But current optics casts a dark spot on the capacity of Tony Elumelu’s leadership as Chairman.

[https://enigerianews.com/]SOURCE[/https://enigerianews.com/]

As established in the previous article, a number of international treaties support the protection, management, and collection of copyrights. Taken together, these international agreements establish a clear global standard which clearly stipulates that creators must be fairly compensated whenever their works are used commercially, whether in physical spaces or on digital platforms.
However, for these protections to work effectively at the national level, countries like Nigeria must develop modern, technology driven and transparent royalty management systems.

This is where Collective Management Organizations play a crucial role.
For Nigeria, aligning with already existing global standards means modernizing its CMO structures, strengthening regulatory oversight, and adopting technology-driven tracking systems capable of monitoring music usage across pubs, radio stations, streaming platforms, and other commercial environments.

Without such modernization, the rights guaranteed by international treaties risk remaining theoretical protections rather than practical financial benefits for Nigerian creators.

WHY THE EMBRACE OF TECHNOLOGY BY NIGERIA’S COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS IS INEVITABLE
Nigeria’s music industry has grown into one of the most influential cultural exports from Africa. From Afrobeats dominating global charts to Nigerian artists selling out arenas across Europe and North America, the country’s musical influence is undeniable.
However, behind this global success lies a structural problem that continues to undermine the livelihood of many musicians. Chief among them is, the ineffective royalty collection system operated by Collective Management Organizations (CMOs).
While Nigerian artists are achieving unprecedented international recognition, the systems meant to ensure they are fairly compensated for the use of their creative works remain largely analog, outdated, and inefficient.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM
In principle, Collective Management Organizations exist to collect royalties on behalf of creators when their works are publicly used, this includes, whether on radio, television, streaming platforms, nightclubs, restaurants, or other commercial establishments.
But in Nigeria, the operational model used by CMOs remains obsolete and heavily dependent on guesswork.
Rather than relying on accurate tracking systems, the royalty distribution process often depends on estimations, incomplete reporting, or manual monitoring. This approach might have worked decades ago, but in today’s data-driven global music economy, it is deeply inadequate.
The result is that many artists, especially emerging or independent musicians, do not receive the full royalties due to them, despite their songs being played in public spaces across the country.

WHY TECHNOLOGY MUST BECOME CENTRAL TO ROYALTY COLLECTION
For CMOs in Nigeria to function optimally, they must undergo a fundamental overhaul of their operational model.
This transformation must include the adoption of modern technological solutions capable of accurately tracking the use of copyrighted musical works in real time.

A good example of the type of technology that could inspire such innovation is the widely used music identification application Shazam.
Shazam allows users to identify songs playing around them simply by activating the app and letting it listen for a few seconds. Within moments, the application can recognize the music and display the artist and track information.

Technology like this demonstrates how audio recognition systems can detect and identify music instantly, regardless of where it is played.
If similar technology were adapted for Nigeria’s royalty collection system, it could revolutionize how CMOs monitor music usage.

A NEW MODEL FOR TRACKING MUSIC USAGE
Nigerian CMOs should invest heavily in building technologies capable of automatically tracking when songs are played in public spaces.
Such technologies could take several forms:
• Digital chips or audio recognition devices installed in pubs, lounges, and nightclubs
• Monitoring software integrated into radio and television broadcast systems
• Tracking tools embedded in DJ equipment or entertainment venues
These devices would be able to identify when a song is played beyond the fair-use threshold of approximately 30 seconds, automatically logging the usage.
Once the music is detected and recorded, the system could then calculate the appropriate royalty charges payable by the establishment based on the level and frequency of consumption.
This would create a transparent and data-driven royalty system, eliminating the uncertainty and guesswork that currently characterize the industry.

WHY LEGISLATION WILL BE NECESSARY
Technology alone will not be sufficient to transform Nigeria’s royalty system.
For such a model to work effectively, policy reforms and legislative backing will also be required.
Nigeria already has copyright laws designed to protect creative works. However, these laws may need to be amended to accommodate modern technological monitoring systems.
New regulations could make it mandatory for establishments that rely heavily on copyrighted content, such as pubs, restaurants, clubs, radio stations, and event venues to install approved monitoring devices or software.
This would ensure that copyrighted works are tracked accurately and that creators are properly compensated whenever their music is commercially used.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: FAIR COMPENSATION FOR CREATORS
When musicians are adequately compensated for their work, the entire creative ecosystem benefits. Even government can tax the income.
Fair royalty systems encourage artists to continue producing quality music, attract investment into the industry, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a global music powerhouse.
However, this can only happen if the institutions responsible for protecting artists evolve alongside the industry itself.

CONCLUSION
It is important to note that Nigerian music industry is no longer a small domestic market, but now a global cultural force.
While the music has modernized, the systems managing artists’ rights have not kept pace.
For Nigerian musicians to truly benefit from the international success of their art, Collective Management Organizations must abandon outdated analog systems and embrace technology-driven royalty tracking solutions.
By adopting innovative tools, modernizing their operational structures, and working with lawmakers to strengthen copyright enforcement, CMOs can finally fulfill their mandate of ensuring that creators receive the full value of their work.

About the Author
SOMADINA EUGENE OKORIE ESQ. is a WIPO certified advocate, Intellectual Property/Business Solicitor and researcher based in Lagos. His work explores how legal innovation can drive inclusive economic growth and cultural preservation in Africa.

By SOMADINA EUGENE OKORIE, Esq.

Creative industries are no longer peripheral to national development. They are central drivers of economic growth, social cohesion, cultural identity, and innovation. From books and digital learning platforms that shape education to scientific journals that fuel research and technological progress, creative works underpin modern knowledge economies. Music, film, literature, and other forms of artistic expression also play a vital role in social life, fostering shared experiences that transcend borders and cultures.

In an increasingly interconnected and digital world, the protection of national creativity and cultural diversity has become both an economic and a strategic imperative. A thriving creative sector ensures that local voices, traditions, and artistic expressions are preserved and meaningfully represented in the global cultural landscape. However, creativity cannot be sustained without economic viability. For creators to continue producing new works, they must be able to earn a living from their intellectual output.

This reality places copyright at the heart of the creative economy. Effective copyright protection ensures that markets function properly, piracy is reduced, licensing systems operate efficiently, and creators receive fair remuneration for the use of their works.

Copyright Protection Under Nigerian Law
Nigeria’s Copyright Act 2022 provides a comprehensive legal framework for protecting the rights of authors and other rightsholders. Sections 8, 9, 10, and 12 of the Act clearly define the proprietary rights of copyright owners. Any use of a protected work without the express authorization of the rightsholder constitutes infringement under Sections 15, 28, and 30 of the Act.
Copyright comprises two main categories of rights: economic rights and moral rights.
Economic rights are built around exclusivity. They grant the rightsholder the authority to decide who may use a work, under what conditions, and for what purpose. These rights include, among others, the right to reproduce the work, communicate it to the public, and create translations or adaptations. Rightsholders may exercise these rights directly or mandate a professional body, such as a Collective Management Organization (CMO), to manage them on their behalf.
In certain cases, however, the law substitutes exclusive rights with a right to equitable remuneration. Under such regimes, the rightsholder cannot prohibit use but is entitled to compensation. Examples include private copying compensation schemes and the resale right (droit de suite) for visual artists, which entitles them to a percentage of resale prices when their works are sold through galleries or auction houses.
Moral rights, on the other hand, protect the personal and reputational bond between creators and their works. These include the right of paternity, which allows authors to claim authorship, and the right of integrity, which enables them to object to distortions or modifications that could harm their honor or reputation.

Exceptions, Limitations, and the Three-Step Test
Copyright law is not absolute. National legislation may introduce exceptions and limitations to exclusive rights, provided they comply with international treaty obligations. These limitations are governed by the three-step test, a legal standard embedded in major international copyright treaties and reflected in national laws.
Under the three-step test, exceptions and limitations are permissible only if they meet all three cumulative conditions:
they must apply only to special cases;
they must not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work;
and they must not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the rightsholder.
Policymakers play a crucial role in applying these criteria, as they must strike a careful balance between protecting creators’ rights and safeguarding legitimate public and user interests. Different legal systems implement these limitations differently. Common law jurisdictions such as Nigeria, England, and India often rely on fair use or fair dealing doctrines, while civil law countries like Germany and Argentina adopt narrowly defined statutory exceptions.
Where an exception or limitation applies, the use is permitted by law without the consent of the rightsholder and, in most cases, without remuneration. In such situations, no rights management mechanism is required.

Piracy, Licensing, and the Limits of Enforcement
Unauthorized use of copyrighted works remains one of the most serious threats to creative industries. Infringement can range from large-scale commercial piracy to unintentional misuse arising from misunderstanding of copyright law. Regardless of intent, infringement undermines creators’ rights and the sustainability of creative ecosystems.
Organized piracy, particularly in the digital environment, poses a significant challenge. Illegal streaming platforms, file-sharing networks, and unauthorized download services enable cross-border infringement on an unprecedented scale, making it difficult for legitimate businesses to compete.
While enforcement is essential, it is not sufficient on its own. Legal alternatives must be readily provided. Affordable, accessible licensing options reduce incentives for piracy and promote lawful consumption. Both individual rights exercise and collective management play critical roles in this context, enabling rightsholders to license their works efficiently while expanding public access.
Beyond outright piracy, other forms of infringement, such as unauthorized copying of educational materials have now become widespread. In these cases, licensing schemes administered by specialized CMOs often provide the most effective solution, particularly for universities, research institutions, and corporate users.

Individual vs. Collective Exercise of Rights
In principle, copyright grants rightsholders exclusive authority over how their works are used. This control forms the foundation of the copyright system. At the same time, creators generally benefit from widespread dissemination of their works, provided they receive appropriate remuneration.
In some sectors, rights can be exercised individually through direct contractual relationships. This is common in book publishing, film production, and other industries where licensing is relatively straightforward.
However, individual licensing becomes impractical when works are used on a mass scale, across multiple platforms, or across national borders. Radio broadcasts, streaming services, cable retransmissions, and large-scale educational copying involving vast repertoires of works and numerous users. Managing such uses individually would be inefficient, costly, and often impossible.
It is precisely in these contexts that collective management becomes indispensable.

Collective Management and Its Societal Value
Section 39 of the Copyright Act of Nigeria establishes the legal foundation for collective management, while the Collective Management Regulations 2025 provide operational guidelines for CMOs. These organizations negotiate licenses, collect royalties, and distribute income on behalf of rightsholders.

Licensing agreements are often negotiated between CMOs and user associations representing industries such as broadcasting, hospitality, education, and cable services. These negotiations help ensure fair, transparent, and practical terms that reflect both copyright protection and business realities.

Globally, the economic significance of copyright industries is well documented. Studies conducted in more than 50 countries using the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) methodology show that copyright industries contribute an average of 5.44% to national GDP and 5.78% to employment. These sectors often grow faster than the broader economy, generating substantial revenue and supporting millions of jobs.

Effective collective management systems also benefit users by reducing transaction costs, improving legal certainty, and facilitating access to creative content. Royalties collected by CMOs circulate back into the economy, enabling creators to reinvest in new works, employ professionals, and contribute to public revenues. In many jurisdictions, CMOs also support cultural, educational, and social initiatives.
A strong regulatory framework, combining clear legislation, effective oversight, and robust internal governance, is essential to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in collective management. When properly aligned, legal and institutional frameworks complement each other and strengthen confidence in the copyright system.

Looking Ahead
As Nigeria’s digital economy expands, the role of Collective Management Organizations will only grow in importance. Yet collective management also raises complex questions about governance, transparency, competition, and the balance between rightsholders and users.
In the next part of this series, we will examine these critical issues more closely, exploring regulatory challenges, best practices, and the future of collective management in a rapidly evolving and complex digital landscape like Nigeria.

About the Author
SOMADINA EUGENE OKORIE ESQ. is a WIPO-certified advocate, intellectual property/business solicitor, and researcher based in Lagos. His work explores how legal innovation can drive inclusive economic growth and cultural preservation in Africa.
NB: Some of the references in this publication are extracts from the author’s WIPO Academy certification course in 2025.

By SOMADINA EUGENE OKORIE, Esq.

Creative industries are no longer peripheral to national development. They are central drivers of economic growth, social cohesion, cultural identity, and innovation. From books and digital learning platforms that shape education to scientific journals that fuel research and technological progress, creative works underpin modern knowledge economies. Music, film, literature, and other forms of artistic expression also play a vital role in social life, fostering shared experiences that transcend borders and cultures.

In an increasingly interconnected and digital world, the protection of national creativity and cultural diversity has become both an economic and a strategic imperative. A thriving creative sector ensures that local voices, traditions, and artistic expressions are preserved and meaningfully represented in the global cultural landscape. However, creativity cannot be sustained without economic viability. For creators to continue producing new works, they must be able to earn a living from their intellectual output.

This reality places copyright at the heart of the creative economy. Effective copyright protection ensures that markets function properly, piracy is reduced, licensing systems operate efficiently, and creators receive fair remuneration for the use of their works.

Copyright Protection Under Nigerian Law
Nigeria’s Copyright Act 2022 provides a comprehensive legal framework for protecting the rights of authors and other rightsholders. Sections 8, 9, 10, and 12 of the Act clearly define the proprietary rights of copyright owners. Any use of a protected work without the express authorization of the rightsholder constitutes infringement under Sections 15, 28, and 30 of the Act.
Copyright comprises two main categories of rights: economic rights and moral rights.
Economic rights are built around exclusivity. They grant the rightsholder the authority to decide who may use a work, under what conditions, and for what purpose. These rights include, among others, the right to reproduce the work, communicate it to the public, and create translations or adaptations. Rightsholders may exercise these rights directly or mandate a professional body, such as a Collective Management Organization (CMO), to manage them on their behalf.
In certain cases, however, the law substitutes exclusive rights with a right to equitable remuneration. Under such regimes, the rightsholder cannot prohibit use but is entitled to compensation. Examples include private copying compensation schemes and the resale right (droit de suite) for visual artists, which entitles them to a percentage of resale prices when their works are sold through galleries or auction houses.
Moral rights, on the other hand, protect the personal and reputational bond between creators and their works. These include the right of paternity, which allows authors to claim authorship, and the right of integrity, which enables them to object to distortions or modifications that could harm their honor or reputation.

Exceptions, Limitations, and the Three-Step Test
Copyright law is not absolute. National legislation may introduce exceptions and limitations to exclusive rights, provided they comply with international treaty obligations. These limitations are governed by the three-step test, a legal standard embedded in major international copyright treaties and reflected in national laws.
Under the three-step test, exceptions and limitations are permissible only if they meet all three cumulative conditions:
they must apply only to special cases;
they must not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work;
and they must not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the rightsholder.
Policymakers play a crucial role in applying these criteria, as they must strike a careful balance between protecting creators’ rights and safeguarding legitimate public and user interests. Different legal systems implement these limitations differently. Common law jurisdictions such as Nigeria, England, and India often rely on fair use or fair dealing doctrines, while civil law countries like Germany and Argentina adopt narrowly defined statutory exceptions.
Where an exception or limitation applies, the use is permitted by law without the consent of the rightsholder and, in most cases, without remuneration. In such situations, no rights management mechanism is required.

Piracy, Licensing, and the Limits of Enforcement
Unauthorized use of copyrighted works remains one of the most serious threats to creative industries. Infringement can range from large-scale commercial piracy to unintentional misuse arising from misunderstanding of copyright law. Regardless of intent, infringement undermines creators’ rights and the sustainability of creative ecosystems.
Organized piracy, particularly in the digital environment, poses a significant challenge. Illegal streaming platforms, file-sharing networks, and unauthorized download services enable cross-border infringement on an unprecedented scale, making it difficult for legitimate businesses to compete.
While enforcement is essential, it is not sufficient on its own. Legal alternatives must be readily provided. Affordable, accessible licensing options reduce incentives for piracy and promote lawful consumption. Both individual rights exercise and collective management play critical roles in this context, enabling rightsholders to license their works efficiently while expanding public access.
Beyond outright piracy, other forms of infringement, such as unauthorized copying of educational materials have now become widespread. In these cases, licensing schemes administered by specialized CMOs often provide the most effective solution, particularly for universities, research institutions, and corporate users.

Individual vs. Collective Exercise of Rights
In principle, copyright grants rightsholders exclusive authority over how their works are used. This control forms the foundation of the copyright system. At the same time, creators generally benefit from widespread dissemination of their works, provided they receive appropriate remuneration.
In some sectors, rights can be exercised individually through direct contractual relationships. This is common in book publishing, film production, and other industries where licensing is relatively straightforward.
However, individual licensing becomes impractical when works are used on a mass scale, across multiple platforms, or across national borders. Radio broadcasts, streaming services, cable retransmissions, and large-scale educational copying involving vast repertoires of works and numerous users. Managing such uses individually would be inefficient, costly, and often impossible.
It is precisely in these contexts that collective management becomes indispensable.

Collective Management and Its Societal Value
Section 39 of the Copyright Act of Nigeria establishes the legal foundation for collective management, while the Collective Management Regulations 2025 provide operational guidelines for CMOs. These organizations negotiate licenses, collect royalties, and distribute income on behalf of rightsholders.

Licensing agreements are often negotiated between CMOs and user associations representing industries such as broadcasting, hospitality, education, and cable services. These negotiations help ensure fair, transparent, and practical terms that reflect both copyright protection and business realities.

Globally, the economic significance of copyright industries is well documented. Studies conducted in more than 50 countries using the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) methodology show that copyright industries contribute an average of 5.44% to national GDP and 5.78% to employment. These sectors often grow faster than the broader economy, generating substantial revenue and supporting millions of jobs.

Effective collective management systems also benefit users by reducing transaction costs, improving legal certainty, and facilitating access to creative content. Royalties collected by CMOs circulate back into the economy, enabling creators to reinvest in new works, employ professionals, and contribute to public revenues. In many jurisdictions, CMOs also support cultural, educational, and social initiatives.
A strong regulatory framework, combining clear legislation, effective oversight, and robust internal governance, is essential to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in collective management. When properly aligned, legal and institutional frameworks complement each other and strengthen confidence in the copyright system.

Looking Ahead
As Nigeria’s digital economy expands, the role of Collective Management Organizations will only grow in importance. Yet collective management also raises complex questions about governance, transparency, competition, and the balance between rightsholders and users.
In the next part of this series, we will examine these critical issues more closely, exploring regulatory challenges, best practices, and the future of collective management in a rapidly evolving and complex digital landscape like Nigeria.

About the Author
SOMADINA EUGENE OKORIE ESQ. is a WIPO-certified advocate, intellectual property/business solicitor, and researcher based in Lagos. His work explores how legal innovation can drive inclusive economic growth and cultural preservation in Africa.
NB: Some of the references in this publication are extracts from the author’s WIPO Academy certification course in 2025.

VeeVeeMyLuv:
Nigeria is terrorism personified at the moment

So na only bad bad go dey happen to her

No, that is not fair. We have to be optimistic too...

BY SOMADINA EUGENE-OKORIE
I left the 2025 All-Africa Intellectual Property Summit in Dakar with one clear conviction: while the world is racing forward in the new economy of Geographical Indication (GI), Nigeria, the largest market on the African continent, is moving far too slowly and leaving billions of dollars on the table.

At the just concluded summit, where I had the privilege of not only participating but also chairing one of the breakout sessions, two themes shaped and dominated the day: Geographical Indication (GI) as a tool for economic transformation and copyright protection in the age of AI.

Proud to say, these two topics, which I had previously explored in earlier articles, are no longer theoretical. They are now defining global economic strategies. In fact, countries are now harnessing clearly defined GI frameworks not just for the protection of ideas, but to build wealth, elevate local industries, and secure cultural heritage.

Across the world, Geographical Indication has become a strategic tool for unlocking untapped economic opportunities. GI protection attaches value to origin, tradition, craftsmanship, and local knowledge. GI protected products gain premium status because consumers trust their authenticity. For example, “Champagne is not just wine, “Parmigiano Reggiano” is not just cheese, and “Swiss Made” is not just a label.

These are global economic engines, and this is because the law protects their identity, reputation, and origin.
The most striking recent African example that has placed Ghana in the lead occurred in September 2025 when Ghana took a major and audacious leap by officially granting Kente cloth Geographical Indication status. It was a move applauded worldwide. For the first time, this means that only clothes woven in designated Ghanaian communities such as Bonwire, Adanwomase, Kpetoe, Agbozume, can legally be called Kente. The factory-printed imitations flooding global markets can no longer use the name.

This is an economic revolution disguised as cultural protection.
What this means is that Ghana has now positioned Kente alongside Champagne and Parmesan-elite, globally respected, legally protected products tied to specific regions and traditions. Hence, this will drive export revenue, empower small weavers, open direct access to fashion houses, and preserve heritage for generations.
Meanwhile, Nigeria which is Africa’s largest market, brimming with indigenous products has no single officially recognized GI. A development that I call an economic tragedy and disaster.

Nigeria Leaving Money on the Table
Nigeria has the raw material for a thriving GI ecosystem. For instance: Benue yam, Nsukka yellow pepper, Bida brass works, Kano leather, Aba shoes, Adire Abeokuta, Afikpo masks, Ofada rice, Forcados crude oil, these products already have identity. They already enjoy a local and regional reputation. However, what they lack is legal protection, which is the foundation upon which multi-billion-dollar industries are built.
Today, Switzerland earns billions annually from watches largely because the phrase “Swiss Made” is regulated by law. Only products meeting strict standards can use that label. It protects authenticity, preserves trust, and sustains a global reputation.

Imagine if “Made in Nigeria” were not just a slogan, but a protected Geographical Indication, reserved only for products certified for their origin and quality by competent Nigerian agencies. It would reassure global buyers, strengthen our domestic industries, and increase bargaining power for producers. This is not just branding, but a national economic strategy.

The Cost of Inaction in Nigeria: Adire as a Case Study
The absence of clear GI regulation in Nigeria has already created a crises unknown to many, and none is more alarming than what is currently happening to Adire a cultural and economic symbol of Ogun State.

During a recent survey I conducted in Abeokuta, local Adire producers expressed deep frustration. Chinese manufacturers, equipped with advanced machines and substantial capital, have flooded the market with mass-produced “Adire,” sold at impossibly cheap prices. These counterfeits have displaced authentic, hand-made fabrics, pushing indigenous creators to the brink.

“We are losing our market and our heritage,” one producer said to me: “They have taken over the business because we lack protection.”
This is not merely an economic loss, it is cultural erosion, and it would never happen in a country with proper GI laws.

Nigeria Must Wake Up And Now!
If Nigeria is serious about strengthening the naira, improving exports, empowering rural producers, and building sustainable industries, then we must urgently:
1. Enact a Geographical Indications Act
A standalone GI law harmonized with WIPO and TRIPS standards. It must define, register, and enforce GIs for Nigerian products.
2. Establish strong regulatory and certification frameworks
This would mean that only products that meet originality and quality tests should earn GI status. As I emphasized in earlier articles, without stringent quality control, GI becomes meaningless.
3. Integrate GI with our national economic vision
GIs should be tied to agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and trade strategies.
4. Build local capacity for enforcement
Associations of producers, cooperatives, and local communities must be trained to understand and defend their GI rights.

Ghana Has Woken Up, And Made a Move That Matters
Ghana has demonstrated what political will and cultural pride can achieve. With Kente now protected globally, its value will rise, its producers will prosper, and its heritage will remain intact.
What makes this moment even more spectacular is that the move builds on Ghana’s success in getting Kente inscribed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2024.

Nigeria has even more to protect, more to preserve, and more to gain
The All-Africa IP Summit made it clear that the continent is moving toward harmonized IP protection under AfCFTA, with GIs playing a central role in export competitiveness, and Countries that delay will not only lose markets, they will lose value, and lose identity.
It is important to note that Africa is no longer waiting, and the world is not waiting either, so Nigeria must not be the last to act.

Conclusion: The Path Forward
If Nigeria embraces Geographical Indications today, we will not only protect our heritage, but we will also unlock billions in economic value, empower grassroots producers, strengthen the naira, and elevate “Made in Nigeria” to a mark of pride and global trust.
The message from Dakar was loud and clear:
Africa is preparing to lead, not follow, in the next chapter of global intellectual property development. GI is no longer optional. It is unavoidably essential, and Nigeria, with its wealth of culture, creativity, and natural resources, must seize this moment.
The train is moving, and the world is watching.
It is time for Nigeria to wake up and step confidently into the future.

About the Author
SOMADINA EUGENE OKORIE ESQ. is an advocate, Intellectual Property/Business Solicitor and researcher based in Lagos. His research work explores how legal innovation can drive inclusive economic growth and cultural preservation in Africa.

By SOMADINA EUGENE OKORIE ESQ.
For centuries, civilizations have consistently associated certain products with their places of origin. For instance, wines from Bordeaux, silks from Suzhou, olive oil from Tuscany and numerous similar examples.

The ancient Greeks and Romans in their wisdom, knew that the quality of a product(s) was shaped by the land it came from, and today, that timeless truth is enshrined in modern Intellectual Property law through what we now call Geographical Indications (GIs).

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a GI is a sign used on products that originate from a specific place and possess specific qualities, reputation, or characteristics essentially attributable to that origin. GIs protect the reputation of producers, preserve traditional knowledge, and create commercial value by linking authenticity with geography.

For Nigeria, a country of extraordinary natural resources, agricultural diversity, and cultural craftsmanship, the absence of a clear legal framework for GIs represents a vast, unmined economic opportunity.

The Global Legal Framework
Geographical Indications are protected under several international agreements, two of which Nigeria is a party. Key among them are:
• The Paris Convention (1883 - Nigeria is signatory) which is the first to recognize indications of source as part of industrial property.
• The Madrid Agreement (1891) and its Protocol (1989), extending protection against false or deceptive indications of origin.
• The Lisbon Agreement (1958) and Geneva Act (2015), creating an international system for registering and protecting appellations of origin.
• The TRIPS Agreement (1994 - Nigeria is signatory) administered by the World Trade Organization, which mandates GI protection and provides special safeguards for wines and spirits.
These instruments recognize that GIs are not merely marketing labels but legal rights tied to geography and reputation. They protect communities against misappropriation and ensure that the benefits of authenticity flow to the people and regions that created it.

Nigeria’s Legal Reality
Nigeria currently lacks a dedicated or sui generis Geographical Indications law. However, Section 43 of the Trademarks Act allows the registration of certification marks, which can indirectly serve GI-like functions by certifying the geographical origin or quality of goods.

This partial protection has enabled certain products, like Ofada rice, Ijebu garri, and Aso-Oke fabrics to gain regional distinction. Yet, without a specific GI regime, Nigeria cannot fully claim or enforce ownership over its indigenous brands internationally. Certification marks protect a product’s reputation but not the deep territorial and traditional link between place, people, and product, which is the very essence of GIs.

As WIPO’s 2019 Module on Geographical Indications notes, “the essential link between the product’s quality and its geographical environment is what distinguishes GIs from other forms of Intellectual Property protection.” That link remains legally invisible in Nigeria today.

Forcados Crude: A Case for Industrial GIs

Consider Forcados crude oil, produced in the Burutu area of Delta State. This light, sweet crude with a specific gravity of approximately 31.5° API and sulfur content of 0.22%, is prized globally for its high yield of valuable distillates like gasoil. Its composition is uniquely tied to the geology of the Niger Delta.

For example, in 2025, Forcados crude oil became the major driver of Nigeria’s total crude output. Yet, despite its distinctive geographical characteristics, it enjoys no clear GI protection or framework. The danger in such development is that international traders can blend or rebrand similar crude oils under the same name, eroding both value and origin identity.

If registered and protected as a Geographical Indication, Forcados crude could become Nigeria’s first industrial GI, demonstrating that GI protection laws apply not only to agricultural or artisanal goods but also to extractive resources with specific origin-based qualities. This approach could redefine Nigeria’s IP economy and strengthen its export credibility.

Why Geographical Indications Matter

Across the world, GIs have become powerful tools for economic development and cultural preservation.
• India’s Darjeeling tea and Basmati rice have achieved global dominance through GI protection.
• Ethiopia’s Sidamo and Yirgacheffe coffees generate premium prices for local farmers after reclaiming ownership from foreign brands.
• South Africa’s Rooibos tea now commands a thriving export market thanks to GI certification.
• The premium value attached to Swiss wristwatches perfectly illustrates the advantage of Geographical Indication protection. Because the use of the “Swiss Made” label is strictly regulated by law, only watches that meet specific standards of origin and quality can bear it, ensuring authenticity, maintaining consumer trust, and preserving the brand’s global reputation.

The lesson herein is clear: when a product’s reputation is tied to its origin and legally protected, value remains within the community. Producers gain bargaining power, consumers enjoy authenticity, and the state benefits from increased exports and tax revenue.
Nigeria, with its wealth of regional products such as Benue yam, Nsukka yellow pepper, Bida brass works, Kano leather, Aba shoes, Afikpo masks, and Forcados crude, has the raw material for a thriving GI ecosystem.

China’s Cultural Ambition and Africa’s Ownership Challenge

China’s recent announcement to establish its first national museum dedicated to African history and culture highlights a different but related challenge, which is cultural ownership. While this initiative may not breach GI law (since GIs protect goods, not institutions), it raises a vital question: who owns Africa’s identity and how is it represented globally?
If African artifacts, textiles, or symbols are curated and commercialized abroad without corresponding legal or economic returns to their countries of origin, it mirrors the same vulnerabilities seen in Nigeria’s unprotected GIs heritage without ownership and identity without income.

For Nigeria, the message is clear: just as our cultural heritage must be protected from misrepresentation, our geographical heritage, from oil to fabric to food and numerous others must be secured under the rule of law.

The Economic Roadmap Forward
To unlock the value of GIs, Nigeria should take the following steps:
1. Enact a Geographical Indications Act, a standalone law that defines, registers, and enforces GIs in line with WIPO and TRIPS standards.
2. Establish a GI Registry, preferably housed under the Trademarks, Patents, and Designs Registry to document and certify qualifying products.
3. Empower Producers’ Associations: Cooperatives should manage production standards, traceability, and quality control for GI-certified goods.
4. Launch Public Awareness Campaigns to educate farmers, artisans, and exporters on the financial benefits of GI protection.
5. Engage International Partners: Nigeria can collaborate with WIPO, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), and the African Union’s IP Office to secure reciprocal protection abroad.

These steps will not only elevate Nigeria’s reputation in international trade but also localize prosperity, ensuring that communities reap the rewards of their geographical uniqueness.

Conclusion: Law as a Catalyst for Prosperity
Geographical Indications are not mere technicalities of IP law; they are instruments of economic sovereignty. They transform culture into capital, identity into export power, and local heritage into global competitiveness.

Nigerian artisans, farmers, and innovators have long created products of global value. What remains missing is the legal machinery to capture that value. A dedicated GI framework could redefine Nigeria’s export economy, hence, ensuring that Forcados crude, Ofada rice, Aso-Oke and others command the recognition and premium they deserve.

“Now, imagine if the phrase ‘Made in Nigeria’ were not just a slogan, but a legally recognized mark of origin, a protected Geographical Indication reserved solely for products certified by competent regulatory agencies. Such a framework would transform perception into policy, instilling confidence in international consumers while empowering local producers to reap the full economic value of their innovation, craftsmanship, and authenticity. It would be more than branding; it would be a national economic strategy.”

Consequently, to fully unlock the benefits of Geographical Indication (GI) certification, Nigeria’s regulatory bodies, especially the Standards Organization of Nigeria and related agencies must take a cue from Switzerland and urgently step up their efforts. They need to enforce strict quality control not only on imported products, but on those originating from Nigeria before they are exported; ensuring that consumers everywhere can trust in the authenticity and premium quality of goods and services that bear the Nigerian name.

In a world increasingly defined by intellectual property, protecting the geography of our genius and effective quality control regulations may well be the next frontier of Nigeria’s economic independence.

About the Author
SOMADINA EUGENE OKORIE ESQ. is an advocate, Intellectual Property/Business Solicitor and researcher based in Lagos. His work explores how legal innovation can drive inclusive economic growth and cultural preservation in Africa.

GT USA Integrated Link, a subsidiary of Gold Treats, proudly announces the launch of the Gold Treats App, an innovative dual-purpose mobile application that seamlessly integrates secure escrow payments with advanced social communication features.

Founded by Nigeria-born, US-based tech visionary Gold Okechukwu Stanley Obiefuna, the groundbreaking app is set to transform the digital transaction landscape by fostering unparalleled trust and security among users.
Gold Treats App was launched officially in Lagos on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, amid pomp and pageantry.
Given that online payment fraud is expected to reach $343 billion worldwide between 2023 and 2027 (Juniper Research, 2022) and that Nigeria's thriving digital ecosystem is struggling with a lack of trust, the Gold Treats App stands out as a dependable resource that offers a secure environment for smooth transactions in an intuitive yet extremely interactive platform.
Designed to empower consumers, businesses, and merchants, the app combines cutting-edge escrow functionality with robust communication tools, ensuring every transaction is secure, transparent, and seamless.

A New Standard for Secure Digital Transactions

Gold Treats App redefines online commerce with its escrow payment system, acting as a neutral third party to safeguard funds until all transaction terms are fulfilled. This eliminates the risk of fraud, offering peace of mind to buyers, sellers, and service providers alike. Beyond escrow, the platform supports direct payments, seamless gifting, and token-based merchant transactions, catering to diverse user needs with unmatched flexibility.
Very importantly, the mechanism of Gold Treats App is strictly token-based, hence eliminating users’ exposure to online scammers, and financial fraud.
The app’s social communication suite further enhances trust by enabling voice and video calls with privacy-first features, such as screenshot and screen-recording controls. Users can validate items or services in real-time, bridging the gap between virtual and tangible interactions. With a user-friendly interface, transparent transaction tracking, and risk-based KYC/KYB processes, Gold Treats App ensures a frictionless experience tailored to modern digital demands.

Key Features of the Gold Treats App

• Gold Treats Escrow: A secure payment suite with token-based passcode retrieval, holding funds until transaction conditions are met.
• Privacy-First Communication: Internet-based voice and video calls with customizable screenshot/recording restrictions for secure interactions.
• Real-Time Transparency: Track transaction statuses instantly for complete visibility and confidence.
• Flexible Payment Options: Supports bank transfers, digital wallets, and more for user convenience.
• Dispute Resolution: A structured legal process to fairly resolve conflicts, ensuring trust in every transaction.
• Loyalty Benefits: Embedded rewards for individuals, businesses, and merchants to foster long-term engagement.
• Minimal KYC/KYB: Need-based verification for seamless onboarding without unnecessary hurdles.
• Single Click Give Away feature: Gold Treats App guarantees the most efficient way to disburse giveawayprizes to winners with ease. The app generates multiple tokens in less than a minute, ensuring you send out the giveaway funds in a single click.

• Cardless Merchant Payment: With this feature users can generate tokens for cardless transactions, make payment for products and services seamlessly.

A Vision for Trust in the Digital Age

Mr. Gold Okechukwu Stanley Obiefuna, CEO of Gold Treats Nigeria, while sharing his vision at the launch said, “The launch of Gold Treats is a pivotal moment in our mission to create a safer, and more trusting digital marketplace. By blending robust escrow payments with secure communication tools, we eliminate pain points and empower users to transact with confidence.
Gold Treats App is not just an app—it’s a movement toward a secure and seamless global payment ecosystem.”

Addressing Nigeria’s Digital Trust Gap

Nigeria’s digital marketplace, although dynamic and rapidly evolving, faces challenges that are deeply rooted in trust, particularly among older generations and those navigating the digital literacy curve. Gold Treats App addresses these barriers head-on, offering a platform that prioritizes security, transparency, and ease of use and doing business. By fostering trust, the app unlocks the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy, paving the way for broader adoption of online transactions.

Source: https://enigerianews.com/#google_vignette

By SOMADINA EUGENE-OKORIE

In the early 1990s, a jingle floated across Nigeria’s airwaves like a national promise:
“Join us / Come with us / We are on our way / Education for all by the year 2000...”

That hopeful campaign, launched by the National Orientation Agency, was more than a catchy tune. It was a declaration of intent, a collective vision that every Nigerian child would have access to quality basic education by the new millennium. But more than two decades after that ambitious target, the dream lies broken, the tune reduced to a mere echo of lost promises.

Today, Nigeria remains one of the world’s largest contributors to the global population of out-of-school children. According to a 2023 UNESCO report, over 20.2 million Nigerian children are out of school. Northern Nigeria bears the brunt, with almost 50% of this number concentrated in states such as Zamfara, Kebbi, and Borno, where primary school attendance barely crosses 47%. In contrast, the South-East records an out-of-school rate of just 6%, while the Southwest averages around 8%.

But beneath these regional disparities lies a deeper crisis: one of poor administration, neglected infrastructure, and an education sector mired in systemic dysfunction.

The Vanishing Glory of Community Schools

Anyone who grew up in Nigeria in the 1980s and early 1990s remembers when community primary schools were the pride of towns and villages in the country. These schools, though modest, operated on solid structure. They had trained teachers, form teachers, learning materials, and a palpable sense of discipline. Basic education was truly foundational, hence, producing pupils who, even with a Standard Six certificate, could compete intellectually across global settings.

Fast forward to today, and those same schools have become shadows of themselves. In Imo, Kogi, Plateau, and Oyo, many are now in very poor condition. Crumbling walls, overgrown weeds, classrooms without furniture, and teachers without morale. In several northern states, the situation is even more severe, with some communities lacking any formal structures at all.

In my personal evaluation of basic education in Imo, my home state, I was dumbfounded to my bones upon discovering that the state government assigns just two teachers to each community school and in very rare cases when you find more than two teachers in a school, the community is paying from its private purse.

Consequently, in some other parts of the country, state governments are returning community schools to their original missionary owners, citing heritage and quality. However, this trend raises serious concerns about access. Once public institutions are handed to private missions, the poor are often priced out, and the ability of the government to regulate quality or enforce inclusivity diminishes. This is, in essence, a quiet abdication of responsibility.

The perception of Underfunding: A Convenient Distraction

A popular narrative suggests that Nigeria’s education crisis stems from chronic underfunding. But the reality paints a more troubling picture. For instance, in 2022 alone, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) reported over ₦54 billion in un-accessed intervention funds due to the failure of state governments to provide commensurate results of fundings received from international donors.
In the 2024 budget, Nigeria allocated ₦1.54 trillion to education. This is approximately 7.9% of the national budget. Even though the quoted amount falls short of 15 - 20% benchmark as advised by UNESCO, it however highlights a deeper problem: appropriation and utilization, not necessarily volume. Funds are frequently mismanaged, misapplied, or lost in bureaucratic black holes.

Take, for example, the recent case involving the Nigerian Student Loan Scheme. The ICPC alleged in May 2025 that out of the ₦100 billion released for the scheme, only ₦28.8 billion reached the intended beneficiaries. While the managing agency, NELFUND, has denied that any of such happened, the confusion alone exposes the systemic administrative lapses plaguing government education interventions.

Administration, Not Allocation, is the Real Crisis
[/b]The foundational rot does not lie in how much is budgeted, but in how those budgets are executed or appropriated. Nigeria's education sector suffers from a deficit of effective planning, data management, transparency, and accountability. More often than not, teacher recruitment is riddled with nepotism; performance metrics are nearly non-existent, and political interference distorts policy continuity.
Contrast this with Rwanda, which allocates 15% of its national budget to education and achieves far better learning outcomes. Or Finland, where the secret isn’t oversized budgets but strong administrative culture, teacher autonomy, and policy consistency.

[b]A National Policy, Not Political Rhetoric

Education, particularly at the basic level, must be treated like aviation, a non-negotiable sector that transcends politics. Just as safety and operational standards in aviation are insulated from successive change of government or political rhetorics, basic education must be standardized as a national policy priority.

Each administration should produce a comprehensive, realistic roadmap for basic education, with clear targets and transparent implementation strategies. And critically, there must be a structured mechanism for handing over progress reports to incoming governments to ensure continuity and prevent policy resets every four years.

What the Next 25 Years Must Look Like

The last 25 years have largely failed the Nigerian child, but that does not have to define the next 25. The federal government must legislate basic education as a constitutional right, with legal consequences for states and individuals who sabotage its delivery.
A bill should be passed criminalizing the embezzlement or misappropriation of education funds, carrying severe penalties to deter future offenders. Education must be deregulated, not to privatize it, but to decentralize accountability and embed it in the national conscience.

Focus on Rural Nigeria

Reviving basic education means focusing efforts where the need is greatest, in this case, the rural areas. According to the World Bank, 53% of Nigeria’s 213 million population now live in urban areas. That means rural populations, though shrinking, remain largely underserved.
Rural Nigeria is home to the most vulnerable children, those that are most likely to drop out or never enter the classroom at all. Poor infrastructure, inadequate teacher deployment, insecurity, and socio-cultural barriers continue to prevent millions from accessing education. A national basic education revival must prioritize rural teacher incentives, mobile learning units, digital education hubs, and grassroots community engagement to make learning accessible in remote areas.

A Call to Conscience, Not Just Government

This article is not written to score political points or criticize any specific administration. Rather, it is a call to national conscience. A call for every Nigerian government, current and future, to treat basic education as a moral, economic, and political imperative.
Perhaps it is time to reinvent the old campaign jingle, not just as nostalgia, but as a renewed national movement. Through the National Orientation Agency, a new campaign can rally government, private sector, communities, and individuals around a single goal: restoring quality basic education for every Nigerian child.

In conclusion, even though funding matters, effective administration matters even more. If even 50% of what is currently budgeted were properly applied, Nigeria could dramatically reduce its out-of-school population within a decade.
Let us stop mistaking noise for progress. Let us stop calling for more funds without first fixing the pipes that leak them. And let us begin, I mean truly begin to make basic education a national constant, not a political afterthought.
Because 25 years from now, we will either celebrate a success story we built, or mourn another generation we abandoned.

SOMADINA EUGENE-OKORIE ESQ.
Advocate, Intellectual Property/Business Solicitor, writes from Lekki, Lagos Nigeria.

A Nigerian journalist and travel YouTuber, Desmond Ike-Chima has launched Project #TravelAfrica.

Desmond Ike-Chima, editor and founder of ENigeria News who also operates a fast-rising travel and lifestyle YouTube channel, Walker Diary, is set to embark on a groundbreaking solo road trip across 16 West African countries under a bold new project he titles #TravelAfrica.

Popularly known as WALKER, within the travel industry, Ike-Chima says the ambitious journey, which will kick off this July, will span three months and aims to capture the authentic soul of Africa, its people, stories, cultures, and landscapes.

Haven grown grown his travel and lifestyle YouTube channel to over 10,000 subscribers with a unique storytelling style that blends adventure, cultural immersion, and personal experience, Desmond says, “it is time to take the journey a notch further”. From the bustling streets of Lagos to the distant parts of Nigeria Walker Diary is redefining African travel content with depth and purpose, telling authentic stories that impact lives via documentaries.

“I chose travel because it’s in my blood,” says Desmond. “My late dad made me his travel buddy in the '90s. Those road trips shaped my childhood, and now they are shaping my purpose in life.”

About Project TravelAfrica – A Solo Road Trip Across West Africa

Project #TravelAfrica is more than a personal milestone; it is an audacious attempt to showcase Africa through African eyes. Desmond will travel solo by road, visiting cities, towns, and rural communities in 16 West African countries, capturing powerful human stories, traditions, and breathtaking locations.

“This is the biggest risk I’ve taken,” he says. “But it’s also the most meaningful. I want to showcase the heart of Africa beyond the headlines and beyond the borders.”

Despite concerns raised about insecurity, logistics, and funding, Desmond remained undeterred. “Brands also turned down my sponsorship and collaboration proposals, and many tried to discourage from the journey,” he says. But with help from one supportive friend and his personal savings, Walker is hitting the road alone, determined to break record and become the first Nigerian Travel YouTuber to document such a journey solo.

Why Project #TravelAfrica Matters

As Desmond explained, basic African stories are underrepresented in the global media, and even in African media. His goal is to bridge that gap by producing real, relatable, and richly immersive content that reflects African culture, unity, diversity, and humanity.

“I’ve loved traveling since I was a child. In the 90s, my late father made me his travel buddy. We journeyed to many towns and cities across Nigeria, and as inquisitive as I was, he provided answers to my endless questions with such grace,” Desmond recalls. “Those travels shaped who I am today.”

After many years in journalism, Desmond says he decided to take up a new role, and turn his passion into another platform by drawing inspiration from Nigeria’s top travel creator, Tayo Aina, whose mentorship helped him launch Walker Diary. With over 10,000 subscribers and counting, in the last 12 months the channel continues to document rich African stories that inspire and educate.

Desmond’s approach is simple but powerful: “Africa is filled with stories that matter. And I want to be the one to tell them, unfiltered, raw, and beautiful.”

Follow Walker Diary

Fans and supporters can follow every step of project #TravelAfrica journey online, as Desmond shares vlogs, photos, behind-the-scene moments, and live experiences across all major platforms:
• YouTube: Walker Diary
• Instagram: @walker_expedition
• Facebook: Walker Diary

Conclusion:

Desmond Ike-Chima’s upcoming road trip across West Africa, titled Project #TravelAfrica is not just a personal dream come true; it’s a bold redefinition of African travel content and a call to Africans everywhere to own and tell their own stories. From Lagos to Lomé, Banjul to Bamako, Burkina Faso to Cape Verde, Walker Diary is taking subscribers on the journey of a lifetime.
Stay tuned. Subscribe. Support the dream.

By [SOMADINA EUGENE-OKORIE ESQ.]

In the rapidly evolving intersection between technology and creativity, one fundamental misunderstanding is becoming dangerously widespread, and it is the belief that a person can claim legal copyright ownership over content, be it music, movies, articles, or any other expressive work generated through artificial intelligence.

This notion not only misrepresents the intent and scope of copyright law but also opens the floodgates to legal liability, particularly for copyright infringement and misappropriation. The question is deceptively simple: Can one claim copyright over a body of work generated using artificial intelligence?

Now, as a patent and copyright law expert, the unequivocal legal and philosophical answer is no.
This article therefore undertakes a detailed examination of the above subject and is grounded in statutory interpretation, international legal developments, and a proper understanding of how AI functions.

I. Copyright: A Protection of Original Human Expression
At the heart of copyright law lies a central tenet which is originality. The legal doctrine is not concerned with mere novelty or surface-level uniqueness; rather, it seeks to protect expressions that are the product of human intellect and effort. It is this personal investment of creative labour that qualifies a work for copyright protection.
Under Section 2 of the Nigerian Copyright Act, 2022, only works that satisfy specific conditions are eligible for copyright. These include literary works, musical compositions, artistic works, audiovisual works, sound recordings, and broadcasts.
However, Section 2(2) makes it explicitly clear that two essential requirements must be fulfilled:
1. Original character: In this context some effort must have been exerted in making the work to give it original quality;
2. Fixation: The work must be reduced into a tangible or perceptible medium from which it can be reproduced or communicated.
In the absence of these twin criteria, a musical or artistic work, regardless of its aesthetic appeal, cannot be deemed copyrightable under Nigerian law.

II. AI and the Illusion of Originality
Artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, operates by ingesting vast amounts of existing data ranging from text, music, images, video, and code which are scraped from the internet and other digital repositories. It identifies linguistic, auditory, or visual patterns, then recombines them into content that appears novel. But appearance is not substance in law.

The machine does not create; rather it derives. It does not originate; it rather synthesizes.

And those notes, the implications are significant. Because the output of AI models is fundamentally non-original, being algorithmically assembled from pre-existing human work. Hence, such content fails to meet the originality standard of copyright law. Moreover, because these models depend on training data that often includes copyrighted materials, without obtaining licenses or permissions, AI-generated content are therefore not just unoriginal, but potentially infringing.

Thus, any person claiming authorship over such works is not just misunderstanding the law; they are possibly implicating themselves in intellectual property theft an act that is punishable before the law.

III. Artificial Works vs Copyrighted Works: A Fundamental Legal Divide
There is a legal wall of separation between copyrighted works and what we now call "artificial works."
Copyrighted works:
• Are authored by humans.
• Bear the imprint of original thought.
• Reflect creative choices in expression, form, and structure.
• Can be clearly attributed to a person or group with identifiable intent.
Artificial works, by contrast:
• Are generated via algorithms based on patterns in pre-existing data.
• Lack personal creative input.
• Cannot be said to originate from any identifiable human author.
• Are inherently derivative and frequently simulate the work of real artists.

This dichotomy is not just theoretical; it is embedded in legal systems globally, including Nigeria, the United States, and the European Union.
IV. A Precedence: Michael Smith and the First AI-Generated Music Fraud Prosecution.

In a landmark case that underscores the danger of conflating AI output with original work, a North Carolina man Michael Smith was indicted in September 2024 by U.S. federal prosecutors. According to the prosecution, Smith allegedly used artificial intelligence to generate “hundreds of thousands” of songs, which he then streamed via automated bots to fraudulently collect the sum of over $10 million in royalties since 2017.

This is according to the indictment unsealed by Damian Williams, a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and the FBI, which marked the first ever criminal case for AI-assisted streaming fraud. But more critically, Smith's real offense according to the prosecution, wasn't simply streaming artificial music, it was copyright fraud and infringement. Prosecutors argued that the AI-generated songs unlawfully utilized material derived from copyrighted content of existing artists, thus constituting theft under intellectual property law.

This case sets a precedent that is likely to reverberate globally. It sends a clear message that using AI to generate content that mimics or remixes copyrighted work is not innovation; rather, it is infringement.

V. Nigeria’s Emerging AI-Creative Landscape: A Legal Vacuum with Consequences
Nigeria is not immune to the allure of AI. From AI-generated Afrobeats album released in 2023 to synthetic voiceovers in Nollywood scripts, to recent AI-generated movies, creators are increasingly inviting machines into the creative process. However, more disturbing is the fact that Nigeria currently lacks a detailed legal framework on AI-generated works, creating a dangerous grey zone.

But this legal lacuna does not render creators immune. As explained earlier, Nigeria’s Copyright Act 2022 is more than sufficient to prosecute individuals who lay copyright claims to AI-generated works. If it can be shown that such works were copied from existing copyrighted materials, liability attaches immediately, even if the copying was done by an AI tool.

Thus, artists, producers, and studios experimenting with AI must understand that the lack of express AI regulation is not a license to infringe. You may not be the original infringer, but by adopting and publishing the work as your own, you assume responsibility for any infringement therein.

VI. Copyright is Not Registration, it is Originality

Many erroneously believe that securing copyright registration grants ownership. However, copyright does not arise from registration. It arises from human original creation. To this end, registration is merely evidentiary, used to assert and protect rights already earned.

Consequently, registering an AI-generated song with a collecting society or copyright body does not legalize the ownership. It only creates a false veneer of legitimacy, which can easily collapse under scrutiny in law.

As such, even if an AI-assisted song is “registered” and earns revenue through streaming platforms or publishers, the artist remains vulnerable to lawsuits or criminal charges once original creators can identify traces of their work in the AI output.

In Conclusion: Human Creativity Cannot Be Automated, and neither can its protections.
The conversation about AI and intellectual property must not be driven by novelty or convenience, but by the legal and moral foundations of creativity. Copyright exists to encourage the labor of the mind and the spirit. It cannot be claimed over soulless patterns, no matter how harmonious they may sound.

Artists, content creators, and developers must therefore tread carefully. Embracing AI is not inherently wrong, but claiming authorship or ownership over what is essentially a machine-generated remix of human labour is not only a misreading of copyright law, it is an invitation to litigation, financial loss, and public scandal.

In the end, the law is clear: You cannot own what you did not originally create.
________________________________________
NB: This article is for educational and information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For individual cases, consult a licensed intellectual property attorney.
SOMADINA EUGENE-OKORIE ESQ.
Advocate, Intellectual Property/Business Solicitor,
writes from Lekki, Lagos Nigeria.

The Tony Elumelu led United Bank for Africa (UBA PLC) has come under attack from netizens, after the lender tried to swindle a diasporan customer by declaring him dead and clearing his account mysteriously.

In a video circulated across a section of the media penultimate week, which emanated from the social media account of an activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, the diasporan Nigerian and customer of the Tony Elumelu chaired UBA Plc had complained bitterly accusing the bank of orchestrating what has been tagged a heist which saw funds in his account vanishing mysteriously under questionable circumstances.

According to the customer, Ibhahe Hope Ehieribo, a United States-based Nigerian and long-time customer of the bank, the total sum of ₦106,309,534.87 was cleared from his savings account with UBA Plc unlawfully. The withdrawal, he said, was allegedly carried out based on false claims that he had died meanwhile he is based abroad.

The recent controversy came just weeks after the Lagos State Police Command arrested four officials of UBA Plc for allegedly stealing £138,924 (over ₦270 million) from international airlines’ accounts. According to police investigations, the suspects had reportedly conspired to siphon funds from domiciliary accounts into private accounts and later redistributed them to multiple beneficiaries.

Buttressing further on the heist pulled on his account, Ehieribo, said the funds disappeared in 2023 while he was still residing overseas.

He explained that he had regularly deposited funds into his UBA account over the years, only to discover upon his return to Nigeria that his entire savings had been cleared. Bank officials allegedly told him the money had been accessed by individuals who claimed he was deceased and had already been buried.

Ehieribo recounted that during his visit to the bank to demand an explanation, police officers were already stationed at the premises—allegedly to arrest him for causing a disturbance. He maintained that he only raised his voice in disbelief and frustration.

Calling the incident a gross violation of the customer’s rights, Gwamnishu vowed to hold UBA accountable.

In an update posted Monday, the activist confirmed that UBA had refunded the entire ₦106.3 million to the customer but criticized the bank for its silence on who forged the death certificate and executed the fraudulent withdrawal.

“UBA headquarters has reached out. Let me sit and do a video update. UBA is utterly confused and shouting in dismay,” Gwamnishu said.
“The man’s wife resides abroad, and he has no sisters. The supposed beneficiaries of his over ₦100 million are Patience and Precious. My client does not know either of them.”

He further alleged, “Before the money was awarded to these unknown recipients, they obtained a death certificate for a living man and went to probate court to secure a court order. The bank mentioned names unknown to the customer as beneficiaries.

Please tag the Central Bank of Nigeria and UBA Group, and Tony Elumelu. The bank will be held liable. They know what happened.”
UBA Returns Fund After Public Backlash following the public outcry and pressure on social media, the Tony Elumelu UBA reportedly returned the full amount to Ehieribo on Monday morning.

However, Gwamnishu insisted that the refund was not enough. He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to launch a full-scale investigation to uncover those behind the forgery and illegal transactions.

“This morning, our overseas client, whose funds exceeding ₦100 million were transferred from his account, has recovered the full amount.
The bank previously informed the customer that individuals presented documents claiming he was deceased and buried. The money was then moved from his savings account to an estate account.”

“We await UBA’s public acknowledgment of its error and a clear disclosure of those involved. Are bank staff complicit? Nigerians deserve to know.”

“The EFCC must immediately investigate and summon bank executives to explain how unauthorized persons forged legal documents, declared a living man dead, and cleared his life savings.”

In a separate video message, Ibhahe Hope Ehieribo confirmed receiving the refunded money and expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their solidarity and support.

Ramon Nasir, Head of Media and External Relations at UBA, did not respond to inquiries as of press time.
Despite the refund, many Nigerians continue to express outrage over the incident, with social media users criticizing the bank’s conduct and demanding transparency and justice.

Click here to read reactions on Twitter (X): https://x.com/HarrisonBbi18/status/1926991470856167548
SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/tony-elumelu-led-uba-plc-under-attack-over-customers-missing-n106m/

Music executive Jude Okoye has been released from prison after almost two months, ENigeria News can report authoritatively.

Jude Okoye was initially arraigned by men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, on charges bordering on money laundering and illegal conversion of funds said to be proceeds from musical royalties accrued by defunct musical group P-Square.

Jude Okoye is standing trial alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.38 billion, which the EFCC says are alleged proceeds from the royalties of musical works belonging to P-Square, which he allegedly diverted for personal use and the purchase of a massive Ikoyi property, among other things.

Justice Owoeye heard and ruled on the bail application submitted by lawyers representing Mr. Okoye.

According to the ruling, the defendant was granted bail alongside two sureties in the like sum of N100 million each. The two sureties were to provide documents to their properties within the jurisdiction of the court, among other conditions, which also include a travel ban on the defendant.

ENigeria News reports that Mr. Okoye was again arraigned on similar charges before Justice Ramon Oshodi of the Special Offenses Court in Ikeja on March 6, 2025, and bail was also granted by the court.

The bail condition included two sureties in the like sum of N50 million each, alongside other conditions that also included a travel ban and confiscation of the defendant's two passports (a Nigerian passport and another passport of St. Kitts and Nevis).

Having closely monitored developments on the case from inception, ENigeria News can report exclusively that after meeting the conditions for his release on bail in the two courts, Okoye was at exactly 5:40 pm set free from the Ikoyi Correctional Facility into the waiting arms of his brother, Paul Okoye, and P-Square's official lawyer, Barrister Somadina Eugene Okorie. Together they all drove to their Ikoyi mansion, where a party was thrown to celebrate the defendant's release.


SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/jude-okoye-released-from-prison/

By SOMADINA EUGENE OKORIE Esq.

The 2025 Commonwealth Law Conference (CLC), held in Malta from April 6–10, in my experience as a delegate this year, was more than just an assembly of legal professionals—it was a critical forum for addressing the erosion of judicial trust, the threats to rule of law, and the intersection between legal stability and economic prosperity.

Hosted at the Hilton Portomaso in St. Julian’s, this year’s conference was particularly significant, not only for its rich agenda but also for its symbolic choice of Malta—a country that has successfully balanced judicial independence with economic resilience.
However, during my introspection as a practicing attorney from and in Nigeria, a country where public confidence in the judiciary is at an all-time low, the discussions at CLC 2025 yet again served as a timely reminder that a strong, impartial judiciary is not just a legal necessity but an economic imperative.

Let me begin with saluting the organizers for the choice of hosting the prestigious event this year, which in my opinion was pretty much deliberate.

As a country, Malta has long been a model of judicial integrity within the Commonwealth, with a legal system that upholds the rule of law while fostering a business-friendly environment. Unlike many developing Commonwealth nations where judicial decisions are often viewed with skepticism, the courts in Malta are widely respected for their fairness and efficiency, thus, contributing to the status of the country as a world class financial and investment hub.

This is a huge lesson that my country Nigeria should take seriously. When judges are perceived as independent and incorruptible, foreign investors are more willing to commit huge capital, businesses operate with greater certainty, and what follows is exponential economic growth.

Conversely, a judiciary seen as compromised or inefficient scares away investment and stifles economic and financial development.
No doubt, Nigeria’s representation at the conference was robust, featuring some of the our most influential legal minds, including: Afam Osigwe (SAN), President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Senior officials of the NBA like Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, Chairman NBA Body of Benchers, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN, immediate past President of the NBA, and Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), among other leading attorneys from top-tier Nigerian law firms.

In his keynote address, incoming Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) incoming President Steven Thiru emphasized that "an independent judiciary is the lifeblood of democracy." His words carried particular weight for Nigeria, where high-profile cases—often marred by delays, conflicting judgments, and allegations of bias—have eroded citizen confidence.

While I’m impressed with the huge turn out of Nigerian delegates because their presence underscore Nigeria’s commitment to engaging with global best practices, I must not fail urge the delegation to go back home even resolved to strengthen both our legal and law enforcement institutions, creating frameworks that would promote public trust in our law enforcement and justice system as a country.
Key Conference Themes and Their Relevance to Nigeria

1. Judicial Delays and Backlogs: A Crisis Undermining Nigeria’s Legal System
One of the most critical sessions, "Delays, Excessive Duration, Backlogs, and Resources of the Judiciary," directly addressed a major failing in Nigeria’s justice system. Cases drag on for years, sometimes decades, creating a culture of impunity where litigants lose faith in the courts.

Why does this matter for Nigeria’s economy?
• Investors avoid jurisdictions where disputes take too long to resolve.
• Contract enforcement becomes unpredictable, discouraging business deals.
• Corruption thrives when cases are delayed indefinitely.
The way forward? Increased funding for our courts, digital case management systems, and stricter enforcement of timelines for judgments—measures that have worked in countries like Malta and Singapore.
2. Combatting Transnational Crime: Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption Fight in Focus
The session on "Combatting Transnational Organized Crime in the Commonwealth" was particularly relevant for Nigeria, given the EFCC’s ongoing battles against money laundering, cybercrime, and illicit financial flows.
Here are key takeaways for Nigeria:
• Stronger international cooperation is needed to trace and recover stolen assets.
• Judges must be insulated from political interference in high-profile corruption cases.
• Whistleblower protections must be strengthened to encourage reporting.
The EFCC Chairman’s participation in these discussions suggests a recognition of these challenges, but real progress will depend on judicial bravery in convicting high-profile offenders.

[b]3. AI and the Future of Justice: Can Technology Restore Trust?
[/b]The session "AI and Justice: Springing Towards a Vanishing Finish Line" explored how artificial intelligence could reduce case backlogs, minimize human bias, and enhance transparency.
For Nigeria, this is a game-changer.
• AI-assisted legal research could speed up judgments.
• Blockchain technology could make court records tamper-proof.
• Virtual court sittings could improve access to justice in rural areas.
However, as speakers noted, technology alone cannot fix a broken system—it must be accompanied by judicial integrity and political will.
4. Media Freedom and Judicial Accountability
The panel on "Media Freedom: Is There Any Such Thing Now or in the Future?" struck a chord in Nigeria, where journalists face harassment and the judiciary sometimes issues questionable rulings against press freedom.
Why this matters:
• A free press is essential for holding judges and politicians accountable.
• When courts are used to silence critics, public trust evaporates.
• Nigeria’s recent lawsuits against investigative journalists (e.g., cases involving Sahara Reporters, Premium Times and other independent journalists) highlight this tension.
A truly independent judiciary would protect free speech, not suppress it.
The Way Forward: A Call for Judicial Courage in Nigeria
The 2025 Commonwealth Law Conference made one thing clear: Nigeria’s economic future is tied to its judiciary’s independence.
What must change and now?
. Judges must resist political pressure—no more conflicting rulings in election cases.
. Case backlogs must be addressed—technology and judicial discipline can help.
. Corruption in the courts must be punished—the NJC must act decisively.

Media freedom must be protected—an independent judiciary should defend free speech, not undermine it.

Malta’s example shows that a trusted judiciary attracts investment, ensures stability, and strengthens democracy. Nigeria must take this lesson to heart—before it’s too late.

[b]In Summary: A Judiciary That Works for Nigeria
[/b]As Afam Osigwe (SAN) and other Nigerian delegates return from Malta, the challenge is clear: Will Nigeria’s judiciary rise to the occasion?
The CLC 2025 was not just a conference—it was a mirror held up to Nigeria’s legal system, revealing both its flaws and its potential. The question now is whether Nigeria’s leaders—both on the bench and in government—will act accordingly.
A bold, independent judiciary is not a luxury. It is the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy—and its economy.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/

A melodrama played out in court as musician Peter Okoye of the defunct P-Square music group failed to recall his wedding date during examination by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

ENigeria News reports that the trial of Jude Okoye, elder brother of Paul and Peter Okoye, resumed before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Jude Okoye is standing trial alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.38 billion, which the EFCC says are alleged proceeds from the royalties of musical works belonging to a defunct musical group.

ENigeria News reports that as the trial commenced on Monday, April 14, 2025, the EFCC presented its star witness, PW1, Peter Obumuneme Okoye, aka Mr. P, who acknowledged Jude as his elder brother and manager during examination, but a dramatic scene ensued while the witness was asked to state his wedding date for the records of the court, and he suddenly went blank and began to speculate.

Suddenly, the defendant, Jude Okoye who was in the dock, saved the day when he quickly quoted Peter’s exact wedding day as November 17th, 2013, and immediately the entire court went into a frenzy and uncontrollable laughter.

The prosecution led by Aso Larry’s Peters faulted Jude for speaking when it’s not his turn to do so, but the Judge quickly stepped in defense of the defendant, stating that blood is indeed thicker than water. He said, “Counsel, there is nothing you can do about it, blood is indeed thicker than water. The defendant sure knows everything about his brother and it is evident in his response to the question you asked.”

Continuing his testimony against Jude, Peter said,
“Before Jude became our Manager, we had several managers, including Chioma Ugochi, who managed us when we were in secondary school and in university, and the late Bayo Odusami of Mbuntu music, who managed us for five years.

“Thereafter, my twin brother and I managed the band for a couple of months before we decided that he (Jude) would manage us and Northside Entertainment Limited.

“So, we continued running our business. But we were always having issues about how he was running the business. The issues were mainly about the fact that he was the sole signatory to all our bank accounts in Ecobank, Zenith and FCMB.

“These issues lasted for a couple of months. I didn’t have access to the accounts until the current Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, who was our lawyer, said we needed a sharing formula.”
While giving further evidence, he recalled an incident when the brothers were building their houses in Ikoyi, saying, “The funding of the house project was by Northwest Entertainment Ltd. But they just stopped financing my house for six months.

“The accounts were owned by the company, while Jude was the only signatory to all the accounts. At some, I approached him and my twin brother, Paul, to know why they stopped financing my project. But what I heard from them was “As you leave P-square, u leave the money’.

“With that comment, I had to approach our lawyer, Keyamo.
“All our money is in Northside Entertainment, and he is the sole signatory.

“Along the line, I discovered that there’s a company similar to ours, Northside Music Limited.

“In 2022, I discovered this when some people wanted to acquire our albums. These individuals demanded our statements of account to know how much the albums were generating monthly. The reason is that I didn’t have access to ‘backend,’ which could be traced through a Northside account and through the aggregators (these are people you engage to know when they play your music on any medium, so you get paid). I then demanded that I wanted to know the backend. But he refused.

“Then, I went to my twin brother, Paul, who replied thus: “You know, I don’t know anything about it, but Jude.”
“When I suggested we go to see him, he said he would go and meet him, so I left him.”

He further told the court that when he approached Paul a few weeks later about it, Paul told him he had discussed the issue with Jude.

Giving further testimony, he told the court that, “Thereafter, I approached Jude again. He told me that my share of the money was with some people in South Africa. I told him I was not asking for money but the backend and the statements of the account. But there was no positive response.”

Following this discussion, he said he then reached out to the accounts officers in both Eco Bank and Zenith Bank, respectively. But he said he did not get a satisfactory response from them.
According to him , “The account officer at the Zenith Bank later told me that Jude told him not to send it to me. The officer added that the only way I could get it was through the court.

“ I, however, discovered that the aggregators handling P-square’s Music Company were the same persons handling Paul and Peter. So, I approached Paul and told him to give them the albums of P-Square. But Jude and Paul were not comfortable with that.”

Also, Peter Okoye told the court that both Jude and Paul subsequently allowed him to give the catalogue to Mad Solution and he was assured that he would start receiving money after three months.

He said: “ Three months after, I received over $22,000 USD. I was also told that both Jude and Paul had been paid.
“ Until I called, I did not have an idea of a company called Northside music. I decided not to meet Jude over it. But when I approached Paul if he knew about Northside Music, he said I should check the album by Cynthia Morgan, who was then Jude’s artiste.

“When I checked Cynthia Morgan’s album, it was Northside Incorporation and not Northside Music. I then approached Jude for the same backend. He told me that it was going to take three and half months to retrieve the catalogue.

“And then forwarded the catalogue to me. My new management now sent it to people who wanted to buy it.”
According to him, “ By the time it was sent to me, it only bore numbers and not figures.

“They responded that the backend had been tampered with, which suggested that the people who offered $8000 USD could not offer $500 USD,owing to the fact that the numbers had reduced.

“ I went to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) site and discovered that the Directors of Northside Music were Jude Okoye and his wife. I also discovered that Jude’s wife owned 80%, while Jude owned 20%.

“On the backend, I was unable to get anything because it had been tampered with. One of those interested in buying the catalogue came to my house and invited Paul. But his response was that “ I know Peter has told you this. …..When he came back after an hour, he told me that he was tired of all this and that I could do my worst.

“ The man handling our tax , Emmanuel, came to my house and said Jude should pay N2m or thereabouts.

“He said Jude was able to prove that since they broke up, they had not been performing. But when I checked the statements of accounts from January 1, to December 2017, I discovered that those who paid money to the Access Bank account were the aggregators.

“ I then contacted my lawyer, Afolabi l, who now took the matter to the EFCC.”

The case was adjourned till June 4, 2025 for cross-examination.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/drama-in-court-as-peter-okoye-fails-to-recall-wedding-date/

Abuja, Nigeria— When billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and socialite Obi Cubana marked his 50th birthday in grand style last weekend, it wasn’t just another high-profile event—it was a masterclass in luxury, networking, and showmanship, reaffirming his status as Nigeria’s undisputed "King of Razzmatazz."

The party-themed “50 for 50”, which was held at the lavish and expensive Transcorp Hilton Hotel in the Maitama District of Abuja, brought together an unprecedented gathering of Nigeria’s political, business, and entertainment elite, sparking conversations about wealth, influence, and the evolving culture of high-society gatherings in the country. ENigeria News was there, and below is what went down.

Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cubana Group, with interests in lifestyle and entertainment, real estate, transport, tech, and other key economic areas.

Called Okpataozueora1, Obi, ushered in his new age with a simple yet profound Instagram post. Dressed in majestic traditional attire, he wrote, “12.04.25 Happy Birthday, Obi Cubana. 50yrs! 50for50.”
Celebrating her husband, Ebele Iyiegbu, aka Lush Eby, posted a picture of him in elegant attire and wrote, “You are my gift, Dim oma!”

A Gathering of Titans: Who Was Who at the Party
The guest list for Obi Cubana’s 50th birthday read like a Nigerian Forbes ranking meets a political summit. Among the dignitaries spotted were
• Serving and former governors—indicating that Obi’s influence cuts across political divides.
• Top-tier billionaires and industrialists—proof that his business connections run deep.
• A-list musicians and Nollywood stars—because no major Nigerian event is complete without celebrity glamour.
• Social media influencers and content creators—who ensured that every moment was documented for the world to see.

A list of leading dignitaries at the occasion included Delta State governor Sherriff Oborevwori and Mr. Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party's (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, who all made positive remarks about Obi Cubana's remarkable life story and lasting impact.

They were also joined by prominent members of the political, governmental, and corporate spheres, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Chris Ngige, former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, former Senator Dino Melaye, Allen Onyema of Air Peace, Pastors Biodun Fatoyinbo & Jerry Eze, Chief Dele Momodu, billionaire Joey Zaza, Cubana Chief Priest (don't worry, he wasn't allowed to perform his new single...sorry, that was a joke), and others.

The entertainment industry also made a big splash. The exciting performance by global Afrobeats phenomenon Flavour Nabania got the audience standing up as they danced to his repertoire of highlife music catalogue. There was also Paul Okoye, aka Paul O, who came with his partner and actress, Iyabo Ojo, who all lit up the night with electrifying sets and heartfelt tributes to the celebrant.

On the celebrity front, the red carpet dazzled with appearances from award-winning actress Ini Edo, style icon Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Nollywood royalty Kanayo O. Kanayo, reality TV stars Mercy Eke and Tacha Akide, comedian Okey Bakkassi (he hosted the event), and skit maker Broda Shaggi.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as fashion, music, business, and tradition blended seamlessly under one roof.

The presence of such high-profile figures drew inevitable comparisons to the early 2000s era of Terry Waya, the flamboyant socialite whose parties were notorious for attracting sitting governors, sparking controversies, and even drawing the attention of then-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Back then, Waya’s 2005 birthday bash was the talk of the nation, with reports suggesting that the presidency considered sanctions over the perceived excesses of public officials in attendance.

Fast forward to 2024... READ MORE from SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/between-obi-cubana-and-terry-waya-highlight-of-cubanas-50for50-birthday-extravaganza-in-abuja/

Paschal Dozie, a doyen of banking in Nigeria and founder of Diamond Bank, is dead.

ENigeria News reports that Dozie, who was the former chairman of MTN Nigeria, has died at 85 from an undisclosed ailment; a source close to the family has confirmed.

He lost Diamond to Access Bank’s acquisition after the bank ran into troubled water under the leadership of his son, Uzoma Dozie.

With a net worth of over $1 billion, the banking wizard is among the top billionaires in Nigeria as at 2024 ranking.

Paschal Dozie: State of Origin, Early Life and Education

Paschal Dozie was born in 1939 in the Egbu village of Owerri, Nigeria. He was born into the family of Charles Dozie who was a Catholic catechist. Dozie attended Our Lady’s School, Emekuku, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC).

He subsequently attended Holy Ghost Juniorate Seminary and Holy Ghost College, Owerri, where he obtained his West African Senior School Certificate Examination. After obtaining his high school certificate, he travelled to London, where he studied economics at the London School of Economics and obtained a BSc in economics. Subsequently, he attended City University in London, where he studied operational research and industrial engineering and obtained a master’s degree in administrative science.

Paschal Dozie Family
Until the time of his death, he was married to Chinyere Dozie, and they had five children, among whom was Uzoma Dozie, a former Managing Director of defunct Diamond Plc. This is a developing story; more to follow shortly.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/breaking-news-paschal-dozie-diamond-bank-founder-is-dead/

By DESMOND IKE-CHIMA

In this report, ENigeria News takes a deep look into key factors that prove that Sterling Bank’s “free transfer” campaign may be a huge scam, and should not be taken seriously.
Sterling Bank is a struggling Nigerian lender that has built a reputation for its disruptive marketing strategies, often leveraging controversy and trends to generate buzz.


Not surprisingly, as a Tier 2 bank in Nigeria, the lender is bedeviled with the same skepticism and stigmatization that plague other financial institutions in its cadre, and this is stemming from their smaller market share, weaker financial strength, and more often than not declining customer confidence.

ENigeria News reports that rather than addressing these fundamental issues, Sterling Bank has perfected the art of attention-grabbing stunts, even at the expense of public sensitivity. A key example was its infamous 2022 Easter media advert, where the bank impulsively compared the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the rising of Agege bread. The backlash was severe: aggrieved customers rushed to close their accounts, corporate organizations threatened withdrawals, and advertising regulators sanctioned the bank. Only after immense pressure did Sterling Bank reluctantly issue a half-hearted apology.

This pattern of extremism for publicity raises serious questions about the bank’s latest stunt—the “Free Transfer Campaign.”

A Desperate Ploy for Relevance?
In 2025, Sterling Bank suddenly positioned itself as a “messiah” of Nigerian banking, declaring free transfers and urging other banks—including financially stronger Tier 1 banks—to follow suit for “the greater good.” But given the bank’s history of gimmicks, this present move reeks of desperation rather than genuine customer-centric innovation.

Consider the following:
1. A Sinking Brand in Distress – Since the 2022 Agege bread debacle, Sterling Bank has struggled with customer retention. In 2024, its migration to a new core banking system, SeaBaaS, left customers locked out of their accounts for months, triggering an another aggressive wave of mass exits of its already declining customer base.

2. Sustainability is a Mirage—The free transfer model lacks a legal or financial framework to ensure long-term viability. With no clear revenue replacement strategy, the campaign appears to be another short-lived PR stunt and notoriety, which the bank is known for.

3. A Possible Recapitalization Scam-The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has mandated Tier 2 banks to recapitalize to the tune of N200 billion. With the deadline looming and with Sterling Bank showing signs of a sinking brand and with no clear path to meeting this requirement, this “free transfer” campaign could be a phishing expedition to attract desperate depositors and inflate its balance sheet to avoid a possible merger.


Why You Should Be Wary of Sterling Bank
While a few public figures, like former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka and ex-Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, are already ejaculating and romancing the initiative, smart customers should see through the facade.

Under the leadership of Abubakar Suleiman, Sterling Bank has repeatedly prioritized sensationalism over substance, thus plunging the bank into a further media crisis than usual.

Free transfers sound noble, but in reality, this could be:
• A last-ditch effort to regain lost customer trust.
• A deceptive strategy to boost deposits ahead of CBN’s recapitalization deadline.
• Another unsustainable promise that will be quietly rolled back once the hype fades.

Conclusion: Don’t Fall for the Gimmick
Nigerians have seen enough banking scams to recognize one when it appears. Sterling Bank’s free transfer campaign is not a revolution—it’s a well-crafted distraction from its deeper financial struggles.

Before jumping on the bandwagon, customers should ask, If Tier 1 banks with stronger balance sheets haven’t adopted this model, why is a struggling Tier 2 bank pushing for it? The answer is clear—Sterling Bank needs your money more than you need their free transfers.

Smart banking customers should steer clear. This isn’t innovation; it’s a scam.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/why-sterling-banks-free-transfer-campaign-is-the-biggest-banking-scam-of-2025/

The Anambra State government has formally charged Chidozie Nwangwu a popular native doctor in the state also known as Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki and other with kidnapping.

ENigeria News reports that Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki and other native doctors in Anambra State were arrested on the order of the governor of the state, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, who in December 2024 initiated a crackdown on fake native doctors in the state, following a surge in criminal activities, prominent among which was ritual killings and kidnappings across the state.

Akwa who had remained in the custody of the State government since his arrest due to allegations of involvement in criminal activities was on March 26, 2025 arraigned before a High Court holden in Awka Anambra state on two count charges of alleged kidnapping and conspiracy.

ENigeria News spotted the charge sheet which a part of it reads, “Chidozie Nwangwu and others at large on or about the 4th day of September 2024 at Nkpor within the jurisdiction of the court, did conspire among themselves to commit felony, to with; kidnapping. Contrary to section 314(1) of the Criminal Code Amended Law 2009.”

26 year-old Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki was apprehended by operatives of the Agunechemba security outfit in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, in February 2025. During interrogation, he reportedly refuted claims of participating in the preparation of “Oke Ite,” a substance purportedly used for illicit purposes, stating that he had ceased such practices long ago.

Despite his denials, the Anambra State Government proceeded with plans to charge Akwa Okuko and other native doctors in custody with promoting money rituals and providing charms for criminal activities.

The government maintains that these actions are essential to restore order and address the exploitation of spiritual practices for unlawful gains.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/just-tin-popular-native-doctor-akwa-okuko-tiwaraki-charged-with-kidnapping/

Nigerian Senator Ned Nwoko’s Moroccan wife, Laila Charani, has opened a new travel agency, MNS Travel Agency.

ENigeria News reports that Laila Charani and her husband threw a high-octane party to mark the grand opening of the travel company, which reportedly caters to and promises to redefine luxury travel.

Laila Charani, who recently rekindled bond with her husband, Ned Nwoko, after the latter began hanging out with her more often following a rumoured marital crisis with his youngest wife and actress, Regina Daniel, weeks back, is said to have spared nothing at the launch of her new business empire. From continental to local African culinary dishes, all were in abundance at the event.

The high-profile event marking a new beginning for MNS Travel Agency was witnessed by distinguished Nigerians, including Adebola Joy Agunbiade, the Director of Business Development at the Ministry of Aviation, and Mrs. Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Senior Assistant on Media at the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, who represented the Ministers of Aviation and Tourism & Culture, among others.

ENigeria News reports that in his words of exultation, Nwoko, while celebrating the successful achievement of his wife, wrote:
“I am incredibly proud of my lovely wife, Laila Charani, on the successful grand opening of MNS Travel agency. Her passion, dedication, and vision for redefining luxury travel have come to life, and I have no doubt that MNS Travel will set new standards in the industry.

“As someone deeply committed to economic development and tourism in Nigeria, I strongly believe in the power of the travel industry to drive growth, create jobs, and showcase our beautiful country to the world. MNS Travel is a step in the right direction, and I have no doubt it will thrive!

Once again, congratulations, my love! May this be the beginning of something truly great.”
MNS Travel Agency is located at Maitama Mall, Third Floor, Plot 41, Osun Crescent, Off IBB Way, Maitama, Abuja.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/ned-nwokos-moroccan-wife-laila-charani-opens-luxury-travel-agency/

On Friday, the Supreme Court five-man panel, in a unanimous judgment, sacked Julius Abure as National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
ENigeria News reports that a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure National Chairman of the LP, having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.

It held that the issue of leadership was an internal affair of a party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.
The apex further sustained the appeal filed by Nenadi Usman, a former senator representing Kaduna South, and one other and held that it was meritorious.

Thus, the apex court proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the LP for lacking merit.

However, in a statement released by Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, moments ago, the statement maintained that Julius Abure remains the party’s authentic Chairman.

ENigeria News reports that while reacting via the party’s official handle on X, the statements read, “The Supreme Court strikes out Nenadi and Abure suits, saying only political parties can determine who their leaders are. It also said that the courts shouldn’t dabble in the affairs of the political parties. Dr. Julius Abure is still the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”

The confusion surrounding the now controversial Supreme Court judgment may eventually be subject to interpretation by legal experts.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/breaking-julius-abure-remains-chairman-labour-party-insists/

The Supreme Court has sacked Julius Abure as Labour Party Chairman.
ENigeria News reports that the Supreme Court in a landslide judgment set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, recognizing Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.

It held that the issue of leadership was an internal affair of a party over which the courts lacked jurisdiction to handle. The court further allowed the appeal filed by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and one other and held that it was meritorious.

The apex court proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the Labour Party as being unmeritorious.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/breaking-supreme-court-sacks-julius-abure-as-labour-party-chairman/

Moments ago, ENigeria News broke the news of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which declared Monday Okpebholo the winner of the September 21, 2024, election held in Edo State.

The three-man Edo state governorship election petition tribunal headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Asuerime Ighodalo, and upheld the election of Monday Opkebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

ENigeria News reports that in a unanimous decision, the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led Tribunal further gave reasons why it declared the defendant the authentic winner of the election, which was widely perceived as flawed and riddled with a lot of irregularities and malpractices.

According to the tribunal, the People’s Democratic Party failed to call witnesses to prove its case of overvoting contained in its petition.

Also, the tribunal held that the PDP failed to call polling unit agents from all the polling units where they had alleged electoral irregularities.

The tribunal added that out of the 19 witnesses called by the petitioners, 14 of them were ward and local government agents, and the star witness who claimed to be a director of strategy for the PDP played no role in the conduct of the election.

It also added that the BVAS tendered by the petitioners were dumped on the tribunal.

Thus, the tribunal ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of over-voting and upheld that Okpebholo secured the highest number of valid votes.

The tribunal also criticized the manner in which the petitioners presented their evidence, stating that it did not sufficiently support their claims.

Meanwhile, earlier, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had also thrown out the petition of the Action Alliance candidate, Adekunle Omoaje, stating that the AA candidate lacked the legal standing to challenge the election since he did not participate in the poll.

It also held that his claims, which stemmed from his non-recognition as AA’s National Chairman by INEC, had no basis under the Electoral Act 2022.

Many supporters of PDP said they "expected nothing different," as it will be difficult to "get justice with Tinubu as president."

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/edo-tribunal-reveals-why-it-declared-okpebholo-winner/

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has declared Monday Okpebolo the winner of the September 21, 2024, election held in Edo State.

ENigeria News reports that following the controversy arising in the last Edo State Governorship election, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebolo of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 247,655 votes, the PDP candidate approached the Edo State Governorship Election tribunal, and after three months of critically examining the petition brought before it, the tribunal moments ago declared Monday Okpebolo the authentic winner, dismissing the petition of Asue Ighodalo.

The PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, had argued that Monday Okpebolo of the APC did not win the election, citing multiple cases of overvoting, corrupt practices, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

The member panel of the tribunal, headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had, on 3 March, reserved judgment in the petition after the parties adopted their final written addresses.

Although ENigeria News correspondent, who was present in court, noted that there was an acknowledgement of issues like over-voting and a few other concerns raised in Asue Ighodalo's petition, the APC's written address knocked most of the concerns out, and consequently, in its judgment, the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal dismissed the petition and ruled in favour of the defendant.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/edo-state-governorship-election-tribunal-declares-okpebholo-winner/

Victor Isimhen is possibly moving to Barca as the Galatasaray striker tops the list of options for possible strikers penned down to replace Robert Lewandowski.

ENigeria News reports that Barcelona is seriously in search of a possible replacement for the legendary Robert Lewandowski, who is now aging and unable to perform optimally.

Lewandowski is having the most impressive season of his career at Barcelona and is on track to hit 50 goals by the end of the campaign. However, with the Polish striker set to turn 37 in August and his playing days numbered, Barca is said to be considering their options up front.

The Catalans are keen to line up a replacement for the former Bayern Munich No. 9 over the next year.

According to a report from SPORT, Juventus have offered Barca the chance to sign out-of-favour striker Dusan Vlahovic, but the club’s transfer chiefs are not sold on the Serb, who has been linked with a move to either Saudi Arabia or the Premier League.
Another name mentioned in the report is Nigerian-born striker Victor Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli.

The Serie A side are set to part ways with the Nigeria international once and for all this summer and will look to offload him for a price of €75m. Barcelona, though, believes that the player’s wages as well as his transfer fee are well beyond their financial capabilities at the moment but could be open for negotiation.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/osimhen-moves-to-barca/

A Nigerian pregnant woman identified as Kemi has reportedly died after a private hospital rejected her in a very critical state.

In a video seen trending on social media, Kemi, a mother of two who was visibly pregnant with her third child, was in a critical state as her husband held her and gave her moral support on their way to the hospital.

ENigeria News collected some videos of the deceased, whose husband revealed she had died moments after the hospital refused to admit her, despite her critical condition.

Some reactions from netizens read:
“This pregnant woman's de£th hurts to the bone. No mother deserves to go through this The pain was so much, but she never gave up, She was strong, she was strong enough. Even though she was tired, she held on till her lasst breath watching those videos on her husbands page really shoke me up According to her husband, the hospital that would've helped the mom and the baby rejected them because they couldn't afford the 500k hospital bill watch the videos
The hospital told them they need to pay 500k first before she would be admitted.”

“You are all blaming the hospital! Pause and think, do you as a citizen of an oil producing country deserve a free Medicaid? Are all these patients good people themselves ? ( so have absconded with hospital bills) While you are here blaming the hospital or countering this…”

Her children described the mother of two as a kind mother, caring and nice...

To WATCH VIDEO: https://enigerianews.com/pregnant-woman-dies-after-hospital-rejected-her-over-n500k/

This is the profile of Bashir Bayo Ojulari the new Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

ENigeria News reports that he was named the CEO after President Tinubu had sacked the entire board of NNPC, including its Mele Kyari.

Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the new NNPC Limited Group CEO, hails from Kwara State.

Educational Background
Ojulari is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Work Experience
Until his new appointment, Ojulari was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His Renaissance Africa Energy Limited recently led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in the landmark acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), worth $2.4 billion.

He worked for Elf Aquitaine as the first Nigerian process engineer to begin a stellar career in the oil sector. From Elf, he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. in 1991 as an associate production technologist.

Apart from working in Nigeria, he worked in Europe and the Middle East in different capacities as a petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager. In 2015, he became the managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).

ENigeria News understands that during his career, he was chairman and a member of the board of trustees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Upon appointment, President Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns. He wished them well in their future endeavours.

SOURCE: https://enigerianews.com/biography-of-bashir-bayo-ojulari-new-nnpc-ceo/