Award-winning gospel singer, Osinachi Joseph Egbu, popularly known as Sinach, has announced that the Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a copyright suit challenging her ownership of the globally acclaimed worship song, “Way Maker.”
In a statement shared on her X account on Friday, Sinach disclosed that the court rejected claims by Michael Oluwole, who had sought declarations of co-authorship and co-ownership of the hit song, as well as equitable sharing of royalties, alleged infringement of performer’s rights and N5 billion in general damages.
According to the statement, Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that the plaintiff failed to establish authorship or co-ownership of the musical work, finding that “Way Maker” had already been created and performed by Sinach before Oluwole was engaged to mix and master the song for its commercial album release in 2015.
The court further held that the plaintiff was paid for his technical services under an oral agreement and that authorship under copyright law belongs to the individual who creates the original expressive content of a musical work.
“The Plaintiff’s own evidence and admissions under examination confirmed that the Defendant brought an existing song which he then developed into a recorded musical work for a fee,” the statement quoted the court as saying.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa reportedly described the suit as “gold-digging and unmeritorious” before dismissing it in its entirety.
Sinach and Joseph Egbu, Chairman of Slic Inspire Ltd and Gosgem Records, expressed appreciation to the legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Emeka Etiaba, for securing the favourable judgment.
The statement added that the judgment reaffirmed Sinach’s sole authorship and ownership of the musical work “Way Maker.”