COMING SOON: THE COSON HOUSE DREAM BECOMES A REALITY

SATURDAY BREAKFAST with TONY OKOROJI
COMING SOON: THE COSON HOUSE DREAM BECOMES A REALITY
In a few weeks, precisely on May 20, the ultra-modern COSON HOUSE will be commissioned in Lagos. For this songwriter and singer turned intellectual property activist, we are not just talking about another building but the culmination of a life time of struggle, a dream come true.
Those who are close will understand the level of sacrifice and pain it has taken to get to a place where Copyright Society of Nigeria is working for otherwise hapless musicians across the nation and across the world and fighting their fights. Those who are close will tell you about the let downs and betrayals on every mile of this struggle.
COSON HOUSE probably would not be seen as a significant achievement in other professions and industries where access to resources is not so difficult and stable structures have existed over time. Believe me, in the Nigerian creative sector ravaged by infighting and poor leadership, to assemble the consensus and drive the resources for such an undertaking is not ‘beans’.
It is instructive that we did not get one Naira from the federal government or any Nigerian government at all to finance COSON HOUSE. Not one dollar came from a donor agency or any foreign institution, not even the Chinese who appear to be doling out money to build everything. We did not take a loan of any type from any bank. When COSON HOUSE is commissioned on May 20, we will not be owing a penny on the building and it will fully belong to musicians across Nigeria and other stakeholders in the music industry, without any encumbrances.
We have not just set up a building that will house our corporate headquarters but assembled compact facilities for study, research, training and continuous dissemination of information that will ensure that the concept of intellectual property takes root in our fatherland and that Nigeria becomes an important player in the new global knowledge economy. COSON House will steadily host lectures, workshops, seminars and conferences on the subject of intellectual property. The remote conferencing facilities will bring experts from around the world to speak to people in Nigeria on the knowledge economy. The state of the art audio visual facilities will record and transmit images from COSON House to the world.
By the way, May 20 will mark the seventh anniversary of the government approval of COSON. I don’t think that at the beginning, anyone gave us a chance. So, how is it that with the extremely hard resistance of users of music to the payment of copyright royalties in Nigeria COSON has been able to distribute hundreds of millions of naira to thousands of musicians in Nigeria and beyond while none of its two other sister approved collecting societies has distributed one kobo? How exactly has COSON concluded negotions with the broadcast industry, the hotel industry and entered into reciprocal representation agreements with over 140 collective management organizations in every corner of the globe? You may want to ask: how has COSON ensured stability in its structures in seven years without the usual bickering and squabbling that creative industry organizations are notorious for?
The answer, my friends, is not blowing in the wind. TRUST is the key word. Between the leadership and the led, there must be trust. I guess I use the word, leadership, because it has become customary. To me, the correct word should be servant because I believe that every leader is indeed a servant and must see himself or herself as such. The trust is strengthened if there is transparency, accountability and respect for the rules establishing the group. The servant must also have clarity of purpose or objectives of the group and have the passion and a never-say-die spirit to see to the achievement of the objectives. Keep your hands clean and you will not make yourself a target of blackmail and will not lack the liver to make tough decisions.
At COSON, it is very well known that I am a stickler for details in every form. Everyone knows that every year, we must send our detailed audited accounts and annual returns before the due date to each of our thousands of members who are the true owners of COSON, the Corporate Affairs Commission that registered COSON, the Nigerian Copyright Commission that approved COSON, the International Confederation of Authors Societies (CISAC) of which COSON is a member and other sundry organizations to which COSON is affiliated. Every query arising from the reports we send must be answered.
I believe that what applies to COSON should apply to every political institution in the country, governments, churches, trade unions, social clubs, etc. I worry because Nigeria is suffering from a serious trust deficit. In the main, the citizens do not trust the government and the government does not trust the citizens; the congregations do not trust their pastors and the pastors do not trust their congregations; union members do not trust their leaders and the leaders are suspicious of the members, on and on. The unity of purpose required to tackle serious challenges is lacking so our nation moves like a car with a burnt clutch. You fire the car, burn up fuel, make a lot of noise, spew so much smoke into the air but the car is not going anywhere.
Every day that I am in Lagos, I go to COSON HOUSE to witness the construction going on and to ensure that we have facilities that will get our job done. Call me a micro manager but I want to be sure that every tile is aligned, every switch is in agreement, every door handle is tight, the audio is crisp, the visuals are sharp and the air conditioner cools as it should. Some days, I call the Project Manager ten times. In every block, every Plaster of Paris, every pillar at COSON HOUSE is a part of me. Not too long ago, we could not even dream of it. In six weeks, it should be a reality. It is evidence, that fundamentally, there is nothing wrong with Nigerians. We can get things done.
See you next week.

INCREDIBLE AS MCSN’S MAYO AYILARAN FACES 3 NEW CRIMINAL CASES AT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT!

INCREDIBLE AS MCSN’S MAYO AYILARAN FACES 3 NEW CRIMINAL CASES AT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT!

Barely a week after a judge of the Federal High Court, Mrs Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola adjourned the criminal trials of Mr Mayo Ayilaran, CEO of the unapproved Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN) and six members of his staff to March 28 and 29, 2017 in three separate cases, Mr Ayilaran and his staff were docked again on February 8 before another Federal High Court judge, Hon Justice Babatunde Kwewumi to face another set of criminal trials in three other separate cases. Each of the six cases is related to different activities of the accused persons bordering on the collection of various sums of money from unsuspecting individuals and organizations by the accused while purporting to be officers of a copyright collecting society which organization had no approval of the Federal Government as required under Nigerian law.

Any hope that Ayilaran and the other accused persons had placed in the Court of Appeal to give them some relief was shattered on October 19, 2016 when the court unanimously delivered a judgement which judgment reaffirmed several earlier decisions of the court that MCSN, Ayilaran & Co were acting illegally and in fact had no locus to go before the Federal High Court to seek any relief.

In the dock with Mr. Ayilaran were Mr. Louis Udoh, Miss Omolari Banjo, Mr Yusuf Benson, Mr Halim Mohammed, Ms Gladys Njoku and Mr. Olukayode Ajayi. Each of them has spent time in prison custody and are presently on bail.

When the case was called, Mr James Ujah for the defence sought to move an application for an order directing the Nigerian Copyright Commission to release the files, documents and materials seized from the accused by officers of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) during a raid in 2012.

As happened in each of the three cases before Hon Justice Olatoregun-Ishola, Mr Obi Ezeilo leading the prosecution team which included Mrs Linda Durugo and Mrs Chioma Ihedioha objected to the applications. According to Mr Ezeilo, the defence was aware that the Judgement of Justice Mohammed Yunusa on which the applications were based had been completely set aside by the Court of Appeal judgment of October 19, 2016. Following Ezeilo’s objection, the defence Lawyer, Mr. James Ujjah had little choice but to withdraw his applications as was done by Mr. Wale Adesokan SAN in the earlier three cases before Justice Olatoregun-Ishola. Consequently, the applications were struck out.

Justice Babatunde Kwewumi consequently set definite trials in the cases for April 10 and April 11, 2017.

The six cases in which Ayilaran and his team are due to face trial are Charge no FHC/IKJ/CR/18/2012, Charge no FHC/IKJ/CR/19/2012, Charge no FHC/IKJ/CR/20/2012, Charge no FHC/L/351C/2012, Charge no FHC/352C/2012 and Charge no FHC/363C/2012.

Reacting to the developments, Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman Copyright Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) who was in court to witness the proceedings said that those who think that the law does not work in Nigeria may need to rethink.

According to the former President of PMAN, “Regardless of how smart, how cunning or how talented you may think you are in manipulating the law, the day of reckoning will come and your manipulations will catch up with you. The law is patient. That is why we speak about ‘the long arm of the law’ This is a classic case of the long arm of the law at work. Anybody who has followed this saga closely knows that for about 30 years, some of the accused persons, none of whom is a musician or with any stake in the music industry had milked the music industry at great cost to Nigerian musicians, the Nigerian music industry and the Nigerian nation. They had become masters of manipulating the law to promote lawlessness. They also manipulated the news media with propaganda. They practically resided at the Federal High Court and many times, they manipulated an innocent Court of Justice to do injustice. We begged and begged them and they knocked our heads together and traumatized us. We offered every kind of compromise but they would not listen. They were arrogant and sure that they were unassailable and smatter than everyone in Nigeria. Anyone who cooks for the community and smiles, will realize the difference the day the community cooks for him.  I wish them luck.”

JOHN EWELUKWA UDEGBUNAM HONORED BY THECATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL OF NIGERIA (CCRN) OWERRI PROVINCE

It was a great gathering at Maria Asumpta Cathedral Owerri on Friday 9th Dec. 2016, when a great gospel musician, singer, instrumentalist, sound engineer, film editor, music couch. Composer, preacher etc., was honored alongside other great men of God through a pontifical mass celebrated by His Grace Archbishop Anthony J.V. Obinna, the metropolitan of Owerri province.
Joined in the mass were the National Chaplain of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Ozoemena, the chaplain of CCRN Owrri province, Rev. Fr. Cyril Chinedu Okereke and all the CCRN chaplains of the five dioceses under Owerri , province (Owerri, Aba, Okigwe, Umuahia, Orlu and Ahiara) .
The National executive of the CCRN were around in full Capacity and members from Owerri province and beyond.
John Ewelukwa Udegbunam’s home Diocese is Awka, but resides in Onitsha Archdiocese under Onitsha province.
The CCRN Owerri province is led by Dr (Mrs) Bennedeth Ubbaonu, also she is the National CCRN treasurer.
JOHN EWELUKWA UDEGBUNAM’S PAST POST IN THE CCRN
*Onitsha Archdiocesan CCRN secretary
*Onitsha Provincial secretary – 1995 – 2002
* National CCRN PRO – 1995 – 2002
*National Conference Chairman – 2006
*The first National Praise and Worship Ministry Co-coordinator – 2002 – 2007
*The first Onitsha Provincial Praise and Worship Ministry Co-coordinator – 2002 – 2008
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION
*He represented CCRN youths with others in Domus Pacis,Italy in 1985 on International Youth Consultation
*One of the facilitators at the International CCR Music Seminar in Ghana, coordinated by Mark Nino
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
He wrote the following National Conference Anthems.
* Lagos – 1997- Jesus the bread of life
*Jos – 2000 – Jesus the triumphant King of ages
*Benin – 2003 – Let the !re of the Holy Spirit fall Again
*NSC – Ubulu-uku -2006 – Behold your Redeemer
MUSIC ALBUM
He organized and produced the first National Gospel Music and video album
CURRENT POSITION
* National music director

COSON MEMBERS SHARE 200 MILLION NAIRA IN RECORD ROYALTY DISTRIBUTION AS THE CMO ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF THE MULTI-MILLION NAIRA COSON HOUSE

Members of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) this Thursday, December 15, 2016, approved the distribution of a record N200 million naira in copyright royalties to members and affiliates as proposed by the Board of the society which collects royalties for the use musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria. The unanimous approval of the proposed distribution took place at the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) of COSON held at Niteshift Coliseum, Opebi, Ikeja. 

In an outstanding display of coordinated technological efficiency, immediately after the approval, several members of COSON at the venue confirmed that shortly after the approval, they received alerts from their banks confirming that their royalties had just been paid.

For the Extra Ordinary General Meeting, the gaily dressed musicians, young and old from across the country thronged Niteshift Coliseum in a celebratory mood. There was so much singing and dancing as several musicians performed at the event, turning the general meeting into a carnival.

In his address which was punctuated by intermittent applause, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji thanked the members for their continuous support of the society since its inception. Said Okoroji “Despite what is a very hostile environment under which your society has had to operate and an economy hit by severe recession and despite the acquisition of the multi-million Naira ‘COSON House’ which is fully paid for, your Board is today putting before you a scheme for the distribution of a record sum of N200,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Million Naira), a 42.86% increase on the sum of N140,000,000.00 (One Hundred & Forty Million Naira) which you approved for distribution last year”. The information was received with huge applause and unprecedented celebration.

Reporting on the acquisition of the new COSON property, Chief Okoroji said, “I am pleased to announce to you today that in keeping with your mandate, your society has acquired and fully paid for a big multi-million Naira property at No 41 Oluwaleyemu Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja. When fully renovated, the property to be known as “COSON HOUSE” will have state of the art facilities for the operation of any modern organization and provide sufficient accommodation for our growing work force. It is our hope that by time the next AGM takes place, we would have moved from Omodara Street to COSON HOUSE".

Commenting further, the Chairman said, “I want to congratulate every member of COSON for this historic achievement not made by any organization in the creative industry before now. Let me remind you that none of us can truly say anymore that he or she is not a landlord because we are all owners of COSON HOUSE”

Chief Okoroji reported on many initiatives undertaken by his Board to increase the fortunes of the creative industry in Nigeria and boost the Nigerian economy. On the private copy levy scheme, he said that with the firm promises made to a recent COSON delegation by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and the visible steps he has taken since the meeting, he is satisfied that finally, the activation of the private copy levy scheme is receiving appropriate attention.

On the dispute with the telecommunication companies, Okoroji said “While we have sought judicial intervention in specific cases, we also went to Abuja to seek administrative intervention at the highest level to ensure that going forward, all contributors to the pie get their appropriate share of the pie and that the interaction between the telecommunication industry and the creative industry positively affects the Nigeria economy. In Abuja, we received unequivocal assurance from the Honourable Minister of Communications that he will personally address the issues with dispatch”.

Speaking on the royalty agreement with the broadcast industry, the COSON Chair said, “Whilst we cannot undervalue the importance of our agreement with the broadcast industry. I wish to report that from the COSON/BON/IBAN/NBC/NCC Agreement, the broadcast industry owes COSON a significant amount of money, money which should be available for distribution to our members and affiliates.

“This is one of the issues our delegation took to Abuja last month. You must have heard that the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, has forcefully called on all broadcasting stations operating in Nigeria to honour the copyright royalty agreement they entered with COSON in 2014”.

Concluding, the celebrated former President of PMAN said, “This same COSON which was given no chance six years ago, today has reciprocal representation agreements with other CMOs covering about 140 countries and territories in every continent ensuring that Nigerian music is protected around the world.

“As you well know, COSON has collected and distributed several hundreds of millions of naira to right owners across Nigeria. You can bear witness to the fact that without stories and without excuses, COSON has paid royalties every year since inception. 

“Fellow members of COSON, it is not yet El Dorado and there is still a lot of work to do but I say to you, when someone says to you, ‘nothing works in Nigeria’ please shake your head and say to the person, ‘COSON is working!’’’