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RCCG, popular Kunle Ajayi faces litigation over alledged piracy
One Akande Akinbode Emmanuel who dropped an album, Ungrateful, in 2005 which comprises a song, I’ll Never Be Ungrateful, popular among members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has charged the Church’s mas choir and its leader, Kunle Ajayi to court.
According to reports, when Akande released the album in 2005, he did not register it for copyright under the Nigerian Copyright Commission. But in 2016 when his boss attended an event where he played one of his songs, someone commented that the song was from the RCCG National Praise Team. His manager told the person the song belonged to his artiste. On further investigations, his boss found out the RCCG Praise Team had used the song in their album ‘Ancient of Days’.
The next day, Akande bought the CD and listened to it. He confirmed that his song, I’ll Never Be Ungrateful, was used in the album without his permission or an acknowledgement. He rushed to NCC and placed a copyright license under his album, which had four tracks, of which the first track was the song I’ll Never Be Ungrateful.’
Akande, an Assistant Provincial music director at RCCG, got a lawyer who wrote a letter to RCCG National Praise Team. His lawyer sent in his album, which included the jacket of the CD where Akande’s contact information and those he’d appreciated were listed.
The letter fell on the desk of Pastor Kunle Ajayi, the Director of Music at RCCG. Ajayi called everyone acknowledged on Akande’s album talking to them about the issue at hand before he finally gave Akande a call asking that they see. Without informing his lawyer, Akande went to meet Ajayi at the Redeemed church and assured him that the matter would be dropped.
Akande told FIJ of how Ajayi said he had never seen a person like him and how, if the matter was really being dropped, they were going to be family friends. Ajayi then asked that an email be sent showing that the case of copyright infringement was being dropped.
“Ajayi told me that for him to be convinced we are family friends, I should pick any Holy Ghost service, a platform many people had been disturbing him for, and perform there,” he said.
Akande promised to think about it.“Before everything changed, Kunle Ajayi could call me around three times in a day,” he recalled.
Kunle called to follow up on Akande’s decision on when he would come to perform at the Holy Ghost service. Akande picked March but was unable to attend. He postponed it to the June 2016 edition, themed ‘Victorious Praise’.
Akande transported his team to the RCCG camp and was given 15 minutes to perform. At camp, during offering, he was introduced as the original writer of the song ‘I’ll Never Be Ungrateful.’
It was months later that Akande heard that the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, had given a sum of N10 million to address the issue of the copyright infringement. Still, not a single kobo had gone into his pocket.
This led Akande to revisit his earlier position about dropping the case. If he was being cheated, he had to know. In a letter addressed to Pastor Adeboye, he wrote that he did not receive any money and wanted the matter investigated.
“I took that letter to the camp myself. The acknowledgment copy, I collected,” Akande told FIJ. The letter was not responded to by the office of the National Overseer and General Overseer.
Again, Akande wrote another letter but got no response. This made him suspect that something more that he was not privy to was going on. Another letter was written this time using the letterhead of his lawyer; it asked for a meeting with the General Overseer.
So, in 2019, Ajayi called Akande and requested to see him regarding the letter he had received — a request Akande totally refused to honour, unlike before. Ajayi would have to deal with his lawyer directly. On this issue, Akande was ready to fight to the last.
“Despite our several letters wherein we pointed out clearly the praise team’s unlawful and illegal copyright infringement for our client’s album/song track ‘I will never be ungrateful’, your office had failed/neglected to respond to this unlawful act,” the letter, written in January, partly read. A demand for N350 million was further made.
While Akande waits for a response to his letter, his determination to get justice continues to linger amid calls from various quarters for him to drop the case “as a member of the body of Christ”.
FIJ gave a call to Pastor Kunle Ajayi on Wednesday, but he didn’t pick. A message was sent to him asking for his comments but at the time of this report no response had been received.
Credit: (FIJ)
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it has been vindicated by recent revelations from the state’s former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke.
The Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The former Head of Service, who recently resigned had alleged that the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was directly responsible for the political crisis in the state and the bombing of the State House of Assembly.
In response, the Rivers State APC asserted that Nwaeke’s testimony aligns with the party’s long-held position, as frequently stated by Chief Okocha, that the suspended governor was the architect of the state’s political crisis, including masterminding the October 29, 2023, bombing of the State House of Assembly.
Chief Okocha further emphasized that Nwaeke’s account, given his high-ranking position in the state, cannot be dismissed as mere speculation.
He said attempts to discredit the former Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the alleged corruption and misconduct that the APC has repeatedly highlighted.
“What is most interesting to the APC in Rivers State as a responsible political party is that Dr. George Nwaeke’s revelations and testimonies of how suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his squad bombed the Rivers State House of Assembly is an eye witness account.
“Again , it has clearly vindicated the APC in Rivers State as the only visible and viable opposition political party in the State, and has cemented the love for the party in the heart of well meaning Rivers people as the voice of the voiceless, and the hope for a better Rivers State.
“The revelations made by the former Head of Service in Rivers State has further positioned her as a political party with high level of integrity, and the hope of Rivers people for a viable alternative to produce the Governor of Rivers State in 2027.
“The verbal attacks staged against the resigned Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the corruption within Sim Fubara’s administration, which we have consistently highlighted as the opposition party. On this matter, the APC shall function as watchdogs”, the party stated.
Chief Tony Okocha expressed confidence that security agencies would thoroughly investigate the matter.
“The APC in Rivers State strongly believes that the relevant security agencies will be professional enough to get to the root of the matter and make their findings public”, he said.
A coalition of civil rights organizations, the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the allegations leveled against suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of the state.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, Director General of the CCLCA, urged the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take swift action in probing the allegations. He emphasized that if proven true, these claims pose serious risks to governance and democracy.
The coalition, comprising 30 civil society organizations, stands in solidarity with Dr. Nwaeke, who has expressed willingness to provide evidence of alleged corruption and constitutional breaches involving Governor Fubara and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edison.
“We collectively urge the relevant authorities to act swiftly and transparently. Addressing these allegations is critical to restoring public confidence in governance at both the state and national levels,” Dr. Nwambu stated.
He commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his intervention in Rivers State, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency, a move he described as crucial for stabilizing the region.
Dr. Nwaeke’s accusations against Governor Fubara include:
Arson and Sabotage: Allegedly instructing his Chief of Staff to burn down the Rivers State House of Assembly to prevent impeachment proceedings, a violation of Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.
Corruption and Financial Misconduct: Claims of large sums of money being used for personal and illegal activities, contravening Section 15(5) of the Constitution.
Threats to Public Safety: Alleged plans to sabotage state infrastructure, potentially inciting public disorder, which falls under Section 1 of the Terrorism Prevention Act (2011).
Collusion with Militant Groups: Alleged meetings between the governor, his Chief of Staff, and militant leaders, posing a threat to national security and violating Section 43 of the Constitution.
Suppression of Labour Rights: Alleged attempts to bribe labour leaders to silence dissent, contravening Section 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.
The coalition has urged law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough, transparent, and expedited investigation into these allegations.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has appointed Sam Ifeanyi Hart, Esq. as his new Chief of Staff (CoS).
Hart replaces Hon. Toby Okechukwu who was recently appointed Executive Director, Projects of the newly established South East Development Commission (SEDC).
Prior to his appointment, Hart served as Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker on Public Affairs and has an extensive background in training and consultancy.
Hart also previously served as Director-General, Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency from 2019 to 2023 after occupying other appointive positions.
He was also a member of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru where he attended the Senior Executive Course 45, serving as Course Secretary-General.
He has also served on the Boards of several corporate and non-governmental entities.
Hart brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role, with a distinguished career spanning law, leadership, and public service.
A lifelong learner, he holds multiple academic qualifications, including a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law (LLM) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from Abia State University.
The new Chief of Staff is also currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Law.
A seasoned professional, Hart has attended prestigious institutions, including the GOTNI Leadership Centre, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), and the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG).
He is also a member of several professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (M.IoD), Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (ACIArb), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
As Chief of Staff, Hart will provide strategic guidance and support to the Deputy Speaker legislative activities, leveraging his expertise to drive policy initiatives and promote good governance.
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