Copyright body rift deepens in Nigeria

On 7 December, the longstanding head of the body, Tony Okoroji, was replaced with Efe Omorogbe, a music professional well known in the music industry as an artist manager for the popstar 2Baba.

Okoroji had resisted his replacement but at some point appeared to have accepted the decision. Shortly after, he seemed to have changed his mind, as some members of COSON gathered on 19 December and elected Okoroji once again as leader of the body.

A back and forth then ensued, leading Omorogbe to pen a public statement detailing his relationship with Okoroji and the state of things.

“After a decade of dealing with Okoroji one-on-one, my opinion of him is crystal clear – he has become the biggest threat to the process of growing COSON into a world class organisation,” Omorogbe wrote in a statement titled Beyond the Noise, Mob Action And Drama: Why Okoroji Was Sacked as Coson Chairman.

Okoroji went on representing COSON and followed through with a lawsuit involving another copyright body, the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN). The claims made by both Okoroji and Omorogbe split the party into factions, and now the Edo state arm of the body has declared its own stand.

Notwithstanding the strong pull of Nigeria’s ethnic leanings, the Edo state group has expressed its support for Tony Okoroji. They made their stance known in a recent letter addressed to Omorogbe, who hails from Edo state.

The letter, which was read by senior representative Omo Osula at a conference held on 2 April, accuses Omorogbe of “unwholesome activities targeted at destroying the unsurpassed respect associated with COSON” and of mischievous behaviour.

“We warn that if you continue to allow yourself to be used to destabilise COSON, an organisation which we are very proud of and which is catering for our needs, we may have no choice but to drag you before the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare 11,” Omorogbe wrote in the letter.

“You will recall that just a few days after Chief Tony Okoroji was restored as chairman of COSON, he once again visited us in Benin City and we organised a church service and several receptions in his honour.

"Tony Okoroji has proven to us that he is a true leader. This is to the extent that the presence, support and co-tribute ones of the likes of Chief Tony Okoroji, a detribalised Nigerians, is more felt by us in Edo state. Even though, you are our son, your contribution is nowhere to be seen.”