The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered Airtel Nigeria to pay N210 million in damages to veteran singer Veno Marioghae Mbanefo for copyright infringement.
According to Sahara Reporters, Justice Ibrahim Kala delivered the judgment after finding that the telecommunications company unlawfully used Mbanefo’s song, Nigeria Go Survive, without her consent. The court held that Airtel’s actions amounted to a violation of the artist’s intellectual property rights, marking a notable ruling for copyright enforcement in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Mbanefo instituted the suit against Airtel Network Limited in September 2022, alleging unauthorised commercial use of her musical work. She said she discovered that Airtel had been using Nigeria Go Survive to market its products through telemarketing campaigns without obtaining her permission.
According to the singer, her legal representatives initially wrote to Airtel to demand an explanation and seek redress, but the company denied responsibility and allegedly threatened her with criminal action. The matter was subsequently reported to the Nigerian Copyright Commission, which commenced a criminal investigation, while Mbanefo also pursued a civil suit at the Federal High Court.
Court documents showed that Mbanefo had earlier accused Airtel of using the song to promote its TV app and the music talent show The Voice Nigeria without authorisation. In a formal cease-and-desist letter signed by her lawyer, R.A. Igelige, the artist demanded that Airtel stop using the song and pay N50 million in compensation for its unauthorised commercial use.
The letter warned that failure to resolve the issue amicably within 21 days would result in legal action, including claims for damages and injunctive relief. The court’s ruling in Mbanefo’s favour brings the civil aspect of the dispute to a close, with the judge awarding N210 million in damages against Airtel for copyright infringement.
