2baba calls out COSON leadership for alleged corruption

Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Baba, has lamented the lingering crisis rocking the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).

The musician accused the leadership of the collecting society of corruption and financial impropriety on Instagram on Thursday.

The 44-year-old singer said COSON has lost N250 million to the crisis that began since December 7, 2017, when Tony Okoroji was ‘sacked’ as ‘chairman’.

“The society collected N200m less than the sum of the previous year and spent over N50m on lawsuits and office security within the year. Musician work, lawyer and police chop everything finish. My people, no be one chance we don enter so o? If you ask me, na who I go ask?

“Simple compliance with the NCC’s directives or submission to the wide call for independent audit to prove the innocence of the directors against allegations of financial misconduct may have saved COSON at least, N230m, that’s assuming the audit cost N20m.”

2baba also claimed COSON was not empowered by law to demand or collect royalties on behalf of members following the expiration of its operating license.

Back in August 2018, 2baba called on the Nigeria Copyright Commission to urgently intervene in the crisis.

He made the plea in a letter addressed to the Director General of the Nigeria Copyright Commission, Afam Ezekunde.

He urged the authorities to take necessary actions to halt resolve situation.

In the letter, the music star referenced the arrest of the contending president of the commission, Efe Omorogbe, which was allegedly masterminded by the embattled chairman.

Mr.Omorogbe, 47, is well known in the music industry for managing 2Baba for more than a decade.

2baba’s comments are coming three days after veteran musicians Tony Okoroji, Shina Peters, Bright Chimezie and seven other persons reconstituted a new COSON board.

The new leadership has also approved N40 million as specific distributions to members as royalties.

Mr Okoroji made the announcement at COSON’s 9th Annual General Meeting held at Lagos Sheraton Hotel on Monday.

 

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From the figures share recently, COSON has lost about N250m to the crisis that erupted with the December 7, 2017 sacking of Chief Tony Okoroji as chairman. The society collected N200m less than the sum of the previous year and spent over N50m on lawsuits and office security within the year. Simple compliance with the NCC’s directives or submission to the wide call for independent audit to prove the innocence of the directors against allegations of financial misconduct may have saved COSON at least, N230m, that’s assuming the audit cost N20m. To worsen issues, the license don kuku expire sef making it criminal for COSON to demand and collect royalties on behalf of members. Then today we see this: “With respect to the COSON mandate to carry on its operations … COSON has been assured by its team of lawyers that with the various issues still awaiting determination at various courts and with the recent decisions of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, no one has the power to unilaterally stop the operations of COSON.” “Lawyers”, “various issues”, “various courts”…because of simple forensic audit? Musician work, lawyer and police chop everything finish. My people, no be one chance we don enter so o? If you ask me, na who I go ask? @Omawumi @officialwaje @mi_abaga @timidakolo, @official2Baba, @soundsultan @donjazzy @bankywellington @cobhamsasuquo @davidofficial @eldeethedon @Djinee @2niteflavour @iambangerlee

A post shared by Innocent Idibia (@official2baba) on May 23, 2019 at 12:29am PDT