A federal high court in Lagos has thrown out a copyright infringement lawsuit seeking N500 million against popular singer Kcee, businessman E-Money, and their record label, Five Star Music Limited.
Judge Kehinde Ogundare delivered the ruling on Monday, September 30. He stated that the plaintiff, Jude Nnam, failed to present credible evidence to support his claims of copyright infringement.
Nnam, a Nigerian composer, had alleged that Kcee secretly included his songs— “Som Too Chukwu,” “Otito Diri Chineke,” and “K’ Anyi Jee N’ Ulo Chukwu”—in his album “Cultural Praise Vol. 1” without obtaining permission. He sought a formal declaration that Kcee, E-Money, and Five Star Music jointly infringed upon his copyright by producing and marketing the songs unlawfully. In addition to the monetary damages, Nnam demanded payment of all royalties from the songs and a halt to any further infringement.
In response, Kcee and E-Money categorically denied the allegations, labeling them as “frivolous” and an attempt at extortion.
The court not only dismissed the case but also imposed a punitive cost of N1 million against Nnam, signaling the judge’s disapproval of the unfounded claims. This lawsuit, which has been under consideration since 2021, has now concluded, marking a significant victory for Kcee and his team as they continue to navigate the competitive music industry.
