COSON faction demands sacking of Nigeria copyright boss

The decision was taken at the annual general meeting of COSON, an event that took place in Lagos on 10 May, and was attended by the faction in support of Tony Okoroji. A statement released by the body says that the decision to demand Ezekude's dismissal was unanimously supported by all members in attendance.

“Not one person from the array of musicians and music industry stakeholders from practically every state in Nigeria that formed a sea of heads at the overflowing banquet hall of Sheraton Lagos supported the continued stay in office of Mr Ezekude,” reads a part of the statement.

“One after the other, they repeated that Afam Ezekude has completely lost the plot and instead of fighting pirates and other enemies of the creative industry, the DG, facing serious allegations of fraud by his staff, is fully engaged in oppressing his staff and fighting the industry he was appointed to serve.”

As a group, Okoroji's COSON says the reason behind the call for Ezekude’s sacking is related to his display of ”recklessness and impunity of the worst kind” with regards to the recent suspension of COSON’s licence to operate as a collecting body in Nigeria.

The group also claims that they were told by a senior staff member of NCC that the decision was not reached by the management of the commission but as a result of the director-general’s “personal foible”.

So far there are no reports of a reaction by the COSON faction backing Efe Omorogbe as its leader. But the response from Okoroji’s COSON to the NCC might be seen as a counterstrike given that Ezekude’s commission asked for a fresh election to find a leader for the body. The commission also asked that the panel that elected Omorogbe remains, while Okoroji’s re-election as leader should be reversed pending the outcome of the election.

The annual meeting, which was attended by veteran musicians Ras Kimono and Shina Peters, also had members agree to a 4 billion naira ($11m) lawsuit against Omorogbe, Ezekude and others.