Singer Ewa Cole files a N300 million lawsuit against Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz.
Singer Ewa Cole has initiated legal action against music executive JJC Skillz and director Funke Akindele, alleging copyright infringement of her songs featured in the movie “She Must Be Obeyed.”
Produced by SceneOne Entertainment and co-directed by Funke Akindele and her former husband JJC Skillz, “She Must Be Obeyed” garnered attention with its star-studded cast, including Nancy Isime, Abdulateef Adedimeji, Akah Nnani, Veeiye, Waje, Patience Ozokwo, Rachael Okonkwo, and Mike Ezuronye.
In a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court of Lagos, Ewa Cole, represented by her attorney Adewale Williams, asserted her ownership of the rights to “Opoor” and “Bhad Garl,” two songs allegedly used without authorization in the film.
Named as defendants in the case are Tony Ugiagbe (Topage), Waje, Veeiye, Amazon Web Services Nigeria Ltd. (BoomPlay), Amazon Web Services Inc., and Apple Inc.
Ewa Cole alleges that despite being informed by Topage, the song’s producer, that her songs were rejected, Waje and Veeiye proceeded to incorporate elements from “Bhad Gyal” and “Opoor” without proper credit or consent.
The singer is seeking N300 million in damages for what she perceives as infringement on her intellectual property rights. Additionally, she is requesting a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from copyrighting, performing, or distributing her musical compositions. Ewa Cole also seeks a 45 percent share of all earnings derived from the use, performance, duplication, and sale of the two contested songs.
