The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, has ordered Airtel Nigeria to pay N210 million to veteran singer Veno Marioghae Mbanefo for copyright infringement. The court found that Airtel unlawfully used Mbanefo’s song, “Nigeria Go Survive,” without her authorization.
Presiding Judge Ibrahim Kala handed down the judgment, marking a significant legal victory for the singer and reinforcing the enforcement of intellectual property rights in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Mbanefo filed a lawsuit against Airtel in September 2022, alleging that the telecom company used her song to promote its TV app and The Voice Nigeria without permission. In a statement at the time, she said she discovered the unauthorized use and contacted her lawyer, R. A. Igelige of Felix, Igelige and Associates, who issued a cease-and-desist letter and demanded compensation.
According to the singer, Airtel denied any wrongdoing, defamed her, and threatened criminal action. She subsequently took the matter to the Nigeria Copyright Commission and later filed a civil suit at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.
Mbanefo’s lawyers had initially demanded N50 million in compensation for the commercial use of the song. The court’s judgment, however, awarded a significantly higher sum of N210 million, recognizing the extent of the infringement.
