Entertainment
FINALLY OKIKI BRIGHT WINS AS COURT FINES GLO, AIRTEL, 9MOBILE OTHER OVER COPYRIGHT
By Adeyemi Obadimu
A Federal High Court in Lagos on 9th July, 2021 fined some telecommunication giants; 9mobile, Airtel, Globacom and others sum of N2 million over copyright infringement of Okiki Bright musical work Gbagbe Boshe
Justice Nicholas Oweibo delivered judgment in suit number :FHC/L/CS/1776/2017 in favour of Nigerian hip hop Artiste, Raji Mutiu Okiki popularly called Okiki Bright held that 9mobile, Airtel, Globacom and other infringed on the copyright of Okiki Bright for using his musical work titled Gbagbe Boshe Shele as caller tune for commercial exploit without his consent and authorisation.
The court resolved that Okiki Bright and Oritsefemi are not co-owners of the song “Gba gbe boshe sele” saying featuring Oritsefemi in a song does not make Oritsafemi a co-owner of the said song.
The Plaintiff in his suit filed by his counsel, Alayo Akanbi prayed the court to declare him as the exclusive owner and original composer of the musical work titled Gbage Boshe Sele, and that unauthorised use of his song as caller tune by the telecommunications for commercial exploit without his authority amounts to infringement on his copyright to the musical work.
Okiki Bright equally asked for monetary damages cumulatively against the defendants for infringing on his intellectual property.
In his statement of claim, the plaintiff averred that he paid the star Artiste, Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele to feature in his song in order to get more acceptability and that he was still working on promoting his song, when people drew his attention to the fact that his song was now on caller tunes of some telecommunications companies.
Justice Oweibo awarded general and exemplary damages in the sum of N2 million and cost of N500, 000 each against the telecommunication companies and in favour of the Plaintiff.
While speaking with counsel to Okiki Bright, Alayo Akanbi who commended the judge for a well researched and sound judgment and said that the judgment will go long way to discourage intellectual property theft and wished that court should have awarded greater punitive damages against the Defendants as deterrent.
On his part, Okiki Bright said the judge has passed the judgment in his favour but he was surprise about the award of damages in the meager sum of N2 million and that the amount cannot cater for his expenses since 2017 when the case started. In his words, ‘I am going to consult my lawyer my next of action’.
Entertainment
Rotimi Salami In Tears As ‘Kilanko’ Struggles At Box Office
Nollywood actor and producer Rotimi Salami recently expressed deep concern over the poor performance and low audience turnout for his latest film, “Kilanko,” in Nigerian cinemas.
The movie, which hit theaters on March 6, 2026, was a labor of love that took three years to produce and was directed by the late Allwell Ademola.
In an Instagram post, Salami, in a video with veteran actress Yetunde Wunmi, revealed that the movie’s weekend sales were disappointing, putting it at risk of removal from theaters.
Appealing to fans for support, Salami thanked those who attended promotional events and screenings, but acknowledged that the turnout was lower than expected.
He warned that if sales do not improve by the weekend, the film may be pulled from cinemas prematurely.
He wrote, “I am making this post with a heavy heart. Kilanko sales at the cinemas last weekend weren’t good. That’s why I couldn’t post throughout yesterday.
“Still, I say a very big thank you to everyone who came out at different times for the meet-and-greet, and likewise to everyone who came out to watch, but the numbers are pretty small.
“If Kilanko doesn’t make the expected figure by this weekend. It might be kicked out of the cinemas even before Ramadan is over. Please, we need all the support we can get to reach a retainable figure.
“Kilanko is surely a beautiful movie that everyone must see. Thank you, mama @yetunde_wunmi_ for the prayers”.
Breaking News
Gospel Artiste Taiwo Adegbodu Of Adegbodu Twins Passes On
Taiwo Adegbodu, one half of the popular Nigerian gospel duo Adegbodu Twins, has passed away.
The tragic news was officially confirmed by his twin brother and musical partner, Kehinde Adegbodu, through a heartfelt post on the duo’s official Facebook handle.
In a heartfelt post, Kehinde conveyed his profound grief over the loss of both his brother and ministry partner.
He wrote: “TAIWO, why will you leave me and your kids without notification?
My heart is bleeding, Lord how do you want me to cope without him?
God why? This is too much for me to bear!!!”
Taiwo and Kehinde Adegbodu were renowned in gospel circles for their spirited worship sessions, twin-stage performances, and dynamic ministrations, which resonated with churches and Christian gatherings across Nigeria.
Their music and live performances earned them a devoted following, particularly in the South-West region.
As of the time of this report, the cause of Taiwo Adegbodu’s death and details of his funeral arrangements have not been disclosed.
Entertainment
TikTok Star Peller Escapes Unhurt After Fire Guts Generator At Lagos Mansion
Nigerian TikTok star and livestreamer Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller has narrowly escaped a fire incident at his new Lagos home in the early hours of Saturday.
The incident centered on his generator, which caught fire and was completely engulfed in flames.
Peller shared footage of the blaze on his Instagram page, appearing visibly shaken and calling for help as the fire raged.
The blaze, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, was eventually extinguished with buckets of water. While the generator was completely destroyed, the house and its occupants were unharmed.
In the footage, Peller appears visibly shaken as he calls for assistance to put out the flames.
He captioned the post, “This happen early this morning, my new generator almost burn down my new house, but God saved us, it take us over 30 minutes to off the fire, All I can say is God saved us”.
Fans and followers expressed relief in the comment section, attributing quick intervention for the fortunate outcome.
The incident followed a previous scare involving Peller on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, where he crashed his vehicle during a livestream.
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