A lengthy petition addressed to the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) has been written by ‘African Queen’ crooner 2face Idibia.
He is calling for an end to the lingering crisis over the battle for the leadership of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) between Tony Okoroji and Efe Omorogbe.
The petition which was addressed to Alam Ezekude, director-general of NCC, also copied Ibrahim Idris, the inspector-general of police, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the petition, 2face lamented that Omorogbe and other COSON board members were “being harassed, intimidated, and demonised” by the police.
He also accused Okoroji of fighting for the control of COSON for “personal ends”.
“It is quite unfortunate and disheartening that a simple call for accountability and transparency has degenerated into relentless media attack, harassment and intimidation of the group of people who made the call. The personal interest of a few should not supersede the collective interest of generality of members and overall well-being of the society.
“I will like to implore you to use your good office to engage the Inspector General of Police with a view to setting the records straight and reversing the embarrassing and dangerous scenario where Mr Efe Omorogbe and Mr Joel Ajayi, chairman and members of the commission-recognised board acting well under the directive of the regulator, are now being harassed, intimidated, demonised and prosecuted by a sister government agency – The Nigerian Police Force.
“COSON is formed and built by the collective efforts of like-minded industry stalwarts, and it will be a shame to see all of the hard work that has gone into building the society, go down the drain. Our CMO is under siege and our commonwealth is threatened by Chief Tony Okoroji and his agents who for personal ends, continue to demonstrate deep contempt for regulation and the call for accountability.”
In the same vein; the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in a statement jointly signed by its President Pretty Okafor, Vice President Sunny Nneji, Zaaki Azzay, 2nd Vice President and Ruggedman, Chairman media, has sternly warned Chief Okoroji to desist from his recurring act of impunity that threw PMAN into crisis years back when he Tony Okoroji was then PMAN President.
The statement by PMAN reads; “The Performing Musicains Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN ) has been monitoring closely the shameful display of disregard for the RULE OF LAW “ being perpetuated by former COSON Chairman , Chief Tony Okoroji who has refused to step aside as Chairman after being voted out by a valid Governing Board, and has continued to treat with contempt the Pronouncements and directives of NIGERIAN COPYRIGHT COMMISSION (NCC) the Agency that regulates and License CMOs in Nigeria . It has become evident that Chief Okoroji has become a law unto himself, and COSON cannot be regulated under his leadership.
“PMAN hereby sternly warns Chief Okoroji to desist from this recurring act of impunity that threw PMAN into crisis year’s back when he Tony Okoroji was then PMAN President, the Union is yet to recover fully from the crises Okoroji created decades ago at PMAN, and history will not judge him favourably for the intense damage done to PMAN’s image
“PMAN is currently consulting with Entertainment industry stakeholders to decide on line of actions to be taken in this matter, stakeholders are particularly concerned about the collateral damage this crisis will inflict on the collective management system in particular and creative enterprise in general.
“PMAN reiterates that the only way to put a stop to this trend of mushroom monopoly in the entertainment industry is the establishment of an electronic monitoring and regulating mechanism that will ensure that each media item being exploited within the ecosystem goes through designated channel that ensures transparency.
“PMAN calls on the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to perform its statutory duty as the Regulator of COSON, and compel Okoroji and his cronies to comply with the Rule of Law and give way for the new Chairman of COSON, Efe Omorogbe to take charge of the affairs of the organisation as required by law and in line with COSON’s MEMART,” the statement added.
