Court Strikes Out Suit Against AGF, MCSN For Lacking Merit

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.

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.