Court Dismisses N500 Million Copyright Infringement Suit Against KCee and Others
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Court Dismisses N500 Million Copyright Infringement Suit Against KCee and Others
Court rules in favor of popular musician KCee, imposes N1 million cost on claimant.
Lagos, Nigeria – A Copyright Infringement Case Concluded
A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a N500 million copyright infringement lawsuit filed against popular Nigerian singer, Kingsley Okonkwo, famously known as KCee, and two other defendants. The case, which revolved around the alleged unauthorized use of a song titled “Som Too Chukwu,” was brought by Sir Jude Nnam, a notable gospel music composer.
Claimant Fails to Prove Copyright Infringement
Delivering the judgment, Justice Kehinde Ogundare ruled that Sir Jude Nnam, the claimant, failed to substantiate his claim of copyright infringement. The court found insufficient evidence to prove that KCee or the other defendants had unlawfully used Nnam’s work without permission. As a result, the judge not only dismissed the case but also ordered the plaintiff to pay a punitive cost of N1 million to the defendants.
Defendants in the Case
The lawsuit also included two other defendants alongside KCee. These were Five Star Music Limited, a music label associated with KCee, and Emeka Okonkwo, also known as E-Money, who is KCee’s brother and a well-known businessman in Nigeria. The plaintiff had named all three parties in his complaint.
Details of the Plaintiff’s Allegations
In his amended statement of claim submitted to the court, Sir Jude Nnam described himself as one of Nigeria’s most prominent and accomplished gospel music composers. Among his musical contributions, he listed several popular works including “Jesus the Navigator,” “Olisa,” “Take and Sanctify,” “Chizara M,” “Adupe Baba,” and many others.
Nnam alleged that the defendants had infringed on his copyright by incorporating his song “Som Too Chukwu,” which he claims to have composed in 2001, into KCee’s album *Cultural Praise* without obtaining his consent or authorization. According to Nnam, this amounted to a violation of his intellectual property rights.
Plaintiff’s Prayers to the Court
The plaintiff sought various remedies from the court. He requested an order directing the defendants to pay him royalties for the use of the songs “Som Too Chukwu,” “Otito Diri Chineke,” and “K’ Anyi Jee N’ Ulo Chukwu” from December 2020 onward. He also sought a perpetual injunction prohibiting KCee and his associates from further infringing on his copyright.
Court’s Final Ruling
After reviewing the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court ruled in favor of KCee and the other defendants, dismissing all claims made by the plaintiff. In addition, the punitive cost of N1 million was imposed on Sir Jude Nnam for failing to prove his case, effectively bringing the matter to a close.
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