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| Okoroji and Onyeka Onwenu |
LAGOS High
Court on Thursday ordered a music star, Onyeka Onwenu to pay monetary damages
of a sum of five million Naira to the chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria
(COSON), Tony Okoroji with unreserved public apology.
In a judgment
in Suit No: ID/935/12 filed in 2012, Hon Justice I. O. Akinkugbe (Mrs.) specifically
ordered Onwenu to tender an unreserved public apology to Chief Okoroji to be
published in Vanguard Newspapers and its website.
Reacting to the
ruling, Okoroji said the ruling has shown that the court remains the last hope
of the common man and essentially, that justice can be obtained in Nigeria.
“I have
committed much of my life to fighting for the welfare of every musician in
Nigeria and protecting the interest of all including Ms. Onyeka Onwenu...
In the battle,
I have spared myself no inconvenience or discomfort and countless times, I have
had to risk my life, my reputation and the welfare of my family.
“Working with
my colleagues at COSON, we have made available to musicians across Nigeria
hundreds of millions of Naira as we set out with the building of the most professional,
transparent and accountable organization in the history of the creative industries
in Nigeria, something that was considered impossible just a few years ago”, he
said.
Other stars
that reacted on the ruling expressed fulfilment on the decision of the court. Mr.
Patrick Doyle in his reaction reportedly said noted that he personally
intervened when the drama was unfolding but ended up in futility.
“some will
recall that I cautioned Onyeka Onwenu when she began her ill-advised war of
attrition against Chief Tony Okoroji. I told her that she was taking on the
wrong guy. She refused to listen. Now, the chickens have come home to roost and
she has to pay for her attempt to destroy a good man”, he said.
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