By Saidu Idris
365Daily – Popular Nigerian reggae musician, Orits Williki, has instituted a copyright infringement and breach of contract case against Nigeria’s oldest music recording and distribution/marketing company, Premier Music, 365Daily has gathered.
Williki made this disclosure to a section of the press in Lagos, over the weekend.
He is asking the court to compel the record label to release the master tapes of his hit songs such as ‘Tribulations, Conquerer, Wha’ This, Wha’ That,’ released on Premier Music label decades ago, especially since the contract with the label expired many years ago.
He is also, through the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, presided over by Justice Allagoa J, demanding a payment of N100m, being the value of his songs that were exploited by Premier Music after the contract elapsed.
According to an affidavit tendered by the musician, the number of years which the law and the contract he signed with the music company allowed the company to hold on to his master tapes have expired 35 years ago, yet the company (Premier,) is still releasing the timeless songs contained in the albums and vending same both locally and internationally, in violation of the copyright laws.
Orits is also the chairman of Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria that recently battled with MultiChoice of Nigeria over copyright abuse.
He instituted the case against Premier Records on May 22, 2022, through his lawyer, Mr. Ademola Odetunde.