NCC suspends copyright society's operating license

The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has been embattled in an unending crisis since its creation and things seems to be getting worse as it has had its operating license suspended by the NCC.

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), is the government agency empowered by law to oversee the affairs of COSON and other agencies under the parastatal.

The commission has now suspended the operating license of COSON, stopping it from collecting royalties on-behalf of and for musicians and other performing artists in Nigeria.

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This comes after a petition written by artist, 2face Idibia to the commission to wade into the crisis at COSON that's lingered on for months between its chairman Tony Okoroji and Efe Omorogbe.

Background Story

It will be recalled that the chairmanship of COSON has stayed unresolved since last year as founding chairman Tony Okoroji and talent manger Efe Omorogbe have both laid claim to the position.

In 2009, an agreement that had previously been proposed as far back as 2000 to collapse all existing collective right structures into one finally gave birth to the formation of The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).

COSON was officially birthed on May 20, 2010 and in nearly eight years has been riddled with more controversies than achievements.

After seven years as chairman of the body, Thursday, December 7 2017 supposedly witnessed a new dawn as the COSON announced a change in its leadership with the appointment of talent manager and Now Muzik boss, Efe Omorogbe as its new chairman.

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The announcement was made by the likes of veteran artist and COSON director Dare ‘Baba Dee’ Fasasi alongside Obi Asika, who is also a founding COSON director.

Speaking after the election, Baba Dee stated that "The change is occasioned by the need to reposition COSON and lead it to its new era''.

But in a swift turn of events on Tuesday, December 19 2017, the COSON general assembly under the chairmanship of Sir Victor Uwaifo condemned the election that led to the emergence of Efe Omorogbe and reinstalled Tony Okoroji and reconstituted his board which includes the likes of Azeezat Allen, Ras Kimono, Sir Shina Peters and Kenny Saint Best to continue running the affairs of the house till the next Annual General Meeting of the society in May 2018.

“I attended an emergency board meeting that called for a specific matter. Suddenly, I was told to step down, with no prior notice, no charges, no hearing, nothing. I understood immediately that a conspiracy had been hatched.''

''It was a coup. I saw some of the people I used to eat and drink with, with bloodshot eyes, desperately trying to find something to hang on my neck! I knew instantly that the coup was sponsored by elements outside of COSON.'' Tony Okoroji said in an interview shortly after the announcement.

This dragged on for a while as both parties laid claim to the position.

Matters got to its height when Efe Omorogbe was recently arrested and detained by the Nigerian police, allegedly following orders from Tony Okoroji.

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COSON has responded by filing a new process at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division challenging the content of the letters from the Nigerian Copyright Commission suspending the copyright licensing activities of the society.