The Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has dismissed a suit filed by the Copyright Society of Nigeria, (COSON) against the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN) and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Presiding Justice Ibrahim Buba held that MCSN is an authorised Collective Management Organisation (CMO) for musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria.
The judge also held that MCSN was validly authorised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to collect royalties on behalf of artistes and that contrary to COSON’s claim, the NCC is authorised to approve more than one CMO to collect royalties for artistes.
In another instance, Justice Buba held that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), lawfully directed NCC to withdraw the cases it filed against the MCSN.
Justice Buba subsequently dismissed for lack of merit, COSON’s entire suit against the first defendant MCSN, second defendant NCC and the third defendant, the AGF.
The judge also said that he would report MCSN’s counsel, Romeo Michael, to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee for alleged abuse of court process.
Mr Michael had brought an application seeking to stall the judgment, but Justice Buba ruled against the application, describing it as a ploy to arrest the day’s business.
The judgment brings to an end several controversies surrounding the case.
