The leadership crisis rocking the Copyright Society of Nigeria has deepened as some of its top members have said that Efe Omoregbe is now the chairman of its board. The members Omoregbe, Dare Fasasi, Obi Asika, Audu Makori, Sikiru Agboola, Joel Ajayi and Paul Okeugo noted at a briefing held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, that the alleged removal of Chief Tony Okoroji by the COSON Board remained valid, following some issues raised against the founding society’s boss. Okoroji has, however, dismissed this position.
According to him, he remains the chairman. In a telephone interview with Punch on Wednesday evening, Okoroji gave the indication that he would not engage in mud-slinging with any colleague, especially younger ones. According to him, he is more interested in causes that will bring progress to the Nigerian musicians and other personnel in the industry. Asked to speak categorically on whether or not he has not been removed, he said, “Come to COSON office to see for yourself.”
But at the briefing, the concerned stakeholders insisted that the Okoroji era was gone. They advanced 10 reasons why he was removed, saying the move was to save the society from highhandedness and gross abuse of office. Omoregbe and his colleagues raised issues bordering on conflict of interest and the society’s finances. “The board voted yours truly (Omoregbe) as chairman with immediate effect and banned directors and their companies from operating as vendors or consultants to COSON under any guise,” they explained.
They also called on the Nigerian Copyright Commission to intervene without delay and discharge its duties as the regulator of COSON. They said, “We call on all right owners to take more than a passing interest, get actively involved and protect their society from fraudulent messiahs and their desperate agencies.” But there was another drama at the programme when a group called the Music Producers and Marketers Association found their way to the venue and distributed a statement titled ‘Why COSON members do not want Efe Omorege’.
