A Federal High Court in Lagos has awarded the King of Juju music Nigerian, King Sunny Ade, the sum of N500 million as damages on copyright violation.Sunny Ade had sued record manufacturing company, African Songs, and its subsidiary, Take Your Choice Records.
The judge, Justice James Tsoho ordered both companies to pay the damages.
A contract dispute first arose between both parties and the court had then ordered that the master tapes of the original musical works belonging to King Sunny Ade, produced under the label, be returned to him.
The then Chief Executive Officer of both companies, Chief Bolarinwa Abioro, had died before the tapes were returned.
And in 1997, KSA dragged both parties again before a Federal High Court, claiming the unreturned master tapes had been used to reproduce his work and were sold without his permission.
KSA demanded N1 billion in damages, but both companies filed a counter claim, pointing out that he had already been paid royalties and thus had no claims to the master tape and also sought damages.
Justice Tsoho had dismissed the counter claim on the basis of lack of merit and ordered both parties to pay the sum of N500 million to King Sunny Ade and his band and also return the master tapes. [myad]
