A Legal practitioner has weighed in on the recent dispute between Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold and Wema Bank, stating that the singer has no legal basis to sue the bank for referencing his giveaway campaign in their advertisement.
Adekunle Gold had called out the bank on social media after it made mention of his recent initiative, where he rewarded several first-class graduates with ₦250,000 each.
The bank had used a promotional message that read:
“AG Baby no send you first class gift? No worries, ALAT’s got you covered. Enjoy up to 70% off your favorite brands this weekend via eVouchers on the ALAT app – it’s no crime to not have a first-class degree.”
Reacting to the advert, the singer wrote:
“Dear @wemabank @alat_ng, when did this start? You’ll be hearing from my people.”
However, Miss Orah clarified that the situation does not amount to intellectual property theft, nor does it breach any specific law.
“Their action is not implicating legally. There’s no ground for legal action, except there’s something else between AG and them,” she said.
She added that referencing a public campaign in an advertisement does not require permission, as no unique or protected concept was stolen.
“Wema Bank doesn’t need any permission from Adekunle Gold. There’s no special law guiding public figures, and there’s nothing intellectual here,” Orah stated.
To illustrate her point, she drew a comparison:
“It’s just like if Victoria Orenze launched a campaign rewarding first-class students from music departments, across different universities, and someone promoting a music class says, we have what is more than an award, join the international music class with Pst Nath for free.” On what grounds will she sue? There’s nothing there.”
According to her, public figures should be cautious in claiming ownership over trends or language that enter the public space, especially when used in non-malicious, commercially creative ways.
Meanwhile, the singer, whose real name is Adekunle Kosoko, continues to receive praise for his philanthropic gesture. Through the viral campaign on social media, he invited graduates to post their transcripts, with several randomly selected beneficiaries receiving ₦250,000 each as a reward for academic excellence. Many posted screenshots confirming the cash gifts.
In addition to the giveaway, Adekunle Gold also launched a health insurance programme last month for 1,000 Nigerians living with sickle cell disease.
The singer and his wife, Simi, who share a beautiful daughter, Adejare, also announced on Wednesday that they have acquired a new home. Sharing the news on Instagram, Adekunle Gold posted a photo of the couple embracing on the property, with the caption:
“Another address, same love.”
Though they did not disclose the location or cost of the home, the announcement was widely celebrated by fans and fellow celebrities.
