With the ill wind of discord blowing across the Copyrights Society Of Nigeria camp over the chairmanship position of the intellectual property rights group. As the tussle between Efe Omoregbe and Chief Tony Okoroji bites harder , the Association of Music Artist managers of Nigeria plays the troubleshooter as they held a meeting with the warring parties with a view to putting a lasting solution to the crisis, here is their stand in the interim and it reads;
COSON AND THE NEW DANCE!
Since December 7, 2017, when it became apparent for all to see that there is fire on the COSON Mountain, we as an association have made concerted efforts to gather the facts and not pay attention to any mud being slung.
Despite the fact that Mr. Efe Omorogbe is not only a bonifide member, but a founding member of our association, we decided to adhere to the principles of “Audi Alterem Partem” (let the other side be heard as well) and give both sides a chance to present the facts as they see it.
We had a meeting on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 with Chief Tony Okoroji and his team comprising of Director at COSON, Azeezat Allen, Mr. Tony Allen, the MD of COSON, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, the COSON consultant from Edo state, COSON Head of New Media, Mr. Tolu Balogun, while Association of Music Artiste Managers of Nigeria (AMAMN) was represented by the President, Sijuade Adedokun, PRO Godwin Raphani Omadibi, Ayodeji Alawemo (member, AMAMN), Mr. Lanre Lawal (member, AMAMN), Benjamin Omesiete (member, AMAMN) and Mr. Oladehinde Fajana (member, AMAMN).
A week later, Tuesday, February 20, 2018, AMAMN met with Mr. Efe Omorogbe and Mr. Joel Ajayi, AMAMN was represented by the President, the PRO, Mr. Michael Odiong (member, AMAMN), Mr. Chinedu Adigwe (member, AMAMN), Benjamin Omesiete (member, AMAMN) Mr. Lanre Lawal (member, AMAMN). Both meetings were held at Radisson Blu hotel, Ikeja and were STRICTLY fact finding meetings. They both gave us their narrative and we are presently engaged in the course of cross checking the facts received.
However, of particular interest, was the role and seemingly silence of the regulatory body, Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC) in this matter. The regulator has finally spoken and we are grateful. We implore ALL parties to please adhere to the ruling of the NCC and allow the proposed probe and forensic audit that the NCC has asked to be carried out.
As a body, we have resolved to follow this situation to a legal and logical conclusion and ask all artiste managers, to join in this agitation. We don’t get paid if our clients don’t get paid, let us therefore secure the rights and livelihood of our clients. WE ARE ALL AFFECTED, big or small, known or unknown, international or local, our rights MUST be protected. We MUST all be involved and make COSON work.
God bless AMAMN, God bless COSON, God bless the NCC and God bless Nigeria.
Association of Music Artiste Managers of Nigeria
