In yet another twist in the ongoing COSON crisis, the Nigerian Copyright Commission has suspended the operating license of the collecting society.
A letter from the NCC to COSON obtained by NET signed by the Director General of the commission Afam Ezekude, instructs the Tony Okoroji led COSON to desist from negotiating and collecting royalties on behalf of copyright owners until further notice.
This is another development in the crises that have engulfed the collecting society in recent times. The longtime chairman Tony Okoroji has been accused by other members of the board for various offences. Efe Omorogbe who was voted in by members in 2017 has also been accused of being an illegitimate contender by the Okoroji faction. He was hauled before a magistrate court in April for ‘alleged forgery and breach of peace.’
Following the suspension, the board issued the following statement:
‘We have just been informed of the suspension of the operating licence of COSON. This situation has been brought upon the society by the intransigence of Chief Tony Okoroji, acting in concert with some individuals who have benefited from using artists royalties to fester their own nests.
We advise both members of COSON, and our licensees not to panic. The legitimate board will work with the NCC to ensure that normalcy is returned in the shortest possible time and that the suspension of the licence is lifted.’