Paul has filed a N200m lawsuit against telecommunications
company, Etisalat for using his song, Mosorire in its popular reality
series, Nigerian Idol, without seeking his consent. In the suit filed at
a Lagos High court and marked FHC/CS/581/2014, Optima Media
Group was made co-defendant. Paul stated that the defendants had
used his hit song, Mosorire, which he composed himself, to
promote their TV show, Nigerian Idol in 2012 and 2013.
He alleged that during the course of the programme, a contestant
was made to reproduce his song and sing it without his express
permission as the owner of the song.
The court paper in part reads
“I am the copyright owner of the work named and tagged
“Mosorire”, contained in my repertoire, exclusively for the
jurisdiction of Nigeria and the authority or permission to exploit
such work can only be obtained from me. However, the
defendants being an organiser of a television reality show
tagged, “Nigerian Idol” caused the use, adaptation and
deployment of my said work titled, “Mosorire” on the said
show without my consent, and which was broadcast to several
millions of television viewers throughout the Federal Republic
of Nigeria and the rest of Africa for 2012 and 2013 editions.”
Paul Play said that as a singer and composer, he was entitled to an
annual fee of N100m on the track. He said for having made use of
his song without reaching out to him for permission, the
defendants, Etisalat and Optima media group had made him loose
some money while according to him, they “made gains and
improved on their own brand image.”. No date has been fixed for
the hearing.
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