The COSON Crisis- Stakeholders React...

The Net.ng

Efe Omoregbe- Newsbreak.ng

On Thursday, December 7, 2017, the Copyright Society of Nigeria announced a change in its leadership with the appointment of Efe Omorogbe as its new Chairman. 

However, since this announcement, the body has been plagued with severe leadership crisis. Efe Omoregbe’s position as chairman of COSON is supported by members of the board of directors which include – Omoregbe, Dare Fasasi, Obi Asika, Audu Makori, Sikiru Agboola, Joel Ajayi and Paul Okeugo.

Omoregbe’s faction has accused Tony Okoroji(the erstwhile chairman of the body) of the following;

•  Fraud and Theft by virtue of collecting a certain amount of percentage from the royalties of intellectual property owners as well as awarding contracts to himself.

• Unethical practices bordering on conflict of interest and the society’s finances. He stated that Okoroji was on the board of COSON as a director, he was chairman of COSON, consultant of COSON, his company was also an agency to COSON and there was no proper procurement process

• Okoroji had been voted out as chairman by a valid COSON governing board and is refusing to step aside despite pronouncements and directives of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) the Agency that regulates and License CMOs in Nigeria.

•   NCC should perform its duty as the regulator of COSON and compel Okoroji and   allow Efe Omorogbe to take charge of the affairs of the organisation.

Tony Okoroji- Aledeh.com

In response to the above, Okoroji denied the existence of factions in COSON and stated that the board is stronger and better. He also insisted that he remains the substantive Chairman of COSON and dismissed all the allegations against him as a campaign by external interests seeking personal gains.

Stakeholders react…

2Face- Nairaland

2Face Idibia…

2Face called on the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) to urgently enforce its position in the lingering crisis rocking Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON). In a petition, addressed to the Director General of NCC, Alam Ezekude, copying the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari, the musician stated as follows;

·         That some members are allegedly being harassed and intimidated by police force after being allegedly masterminded by Okoroji.

·         A simple call for accountability and transparency has degenerated into relentless media attack, harassment and intimidation of the group of people who made the call.

·         The personal interest of a few should not supersede the collective interest of generality of members and overall well-being of the society.

·         He commended the commission for its position on the lingering crisis at COSON but said he wishes to, through the petition, lend his voice to growing call for further action to ensure total compliance to the commission’s directives by all parties.

·         COSON is formed and built by the collective efforts of like-minded industry stalwarts, and it will be a shame to see all of the hard work that has gone into building the society, go down the drain.

·         The commonwealth of the body is threatened by Chief Tony Okoroji and his agents who for personal ends, continue to demonstrate deep contempt for regulation and the call for accountability.

PMAN...

REAL MINA BLOG

Yesterday, the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) called on the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to intervene in the crisis rocking the body. PMAN, in support of Efe Omorogbe urged Tony Okoroji to step aside as Chairman and follow an earlier directive by NCC. In this regard, PMAN posited as follows;

·         It has become evident that Chief Okoroji has become a law unto himself, and COSON cannot be regulated under his leadership.

•   Okoroji had been voted out as chairman by a valid COSON governing board and is refusing to step aside despite pronouncements and directives of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) the Agency that regulates and License CMOs in Nigeria.

•   NCC should perform its duty as the regulator of COSON and compel Okoroji and allow Efe Omorogbe to take charge of the affairs of the organisation.