NCC’S OBI EZEILO LOSES ROUND ONE IN 100 MILLION NAIRA SLANDER ACTION FILED BY OKOROJI

A Lagos High Court Judge, Mr. Justice A.M. Lawal this Monday, January 13, 2020, bluntly told Mr. Obi Ezeilo, a senior official of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), that he cannot use any lawyer in the employ of the Nigerian Copyright Commission to defend himself in the =N=100 Million slander action brought against him by Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).

Mr. Ezeilo who is a lawyer, had announced himself and one Abiola Adekunle, another lawyer employed by the Nigerian Copyright Commission as representing him in the SUIT NO ID/ADR/2389/2019 in which Chief Okoroji has asked the court for an order mandating Ezeilo to retract the “false and slanderous” statements made by him against Chief Okoroji on October 25, 2018 and issue an apology to Chief Okoroji prominently published in four (4) recognized national daily newspapers. Chief Tony Okoroji has also asked for General Damages for slander in the sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) and a perpetual injunction restraining Mr. Ezeilo, Ezeilo’s servants, privies or agents or otherwise called, from further uttering or publishing or causing to be published the said words or any words defamatory of Chief Okoroji.

Reacting to Ezeilo’s announcement of his legal team, lawyer to Chief Tony Okoroji, Mr. Omo-Elo Akokaike protested vehemently and told the court that while Mr. Ezeilo may defend himself in the matter in which he is sued in his personal capacity, he cannot engage the services of lawyers under the employ of the Nigerian Copyright Commission and paid by the Federal Government to defend himself. He insisted that what Mr. Ezeilo was trying to do was unknown to law and legal practice in Nigeria.

Despite what turned out to be a prolonged and hot argument by Mr. Ezeilo that he is Head of Prosecution at the Nigerian Copyright Commission and that at the relevant time he was acting in his official capacity, Justice Lawal sided with Chief Okoroji’s lawyer and determined that Ezeilo had been brought to court in his personal capacity and that he cannot use any government lawyer to defend himself.

The Judge adjourned the matter to March 7 to deal with any pending applications while immediately sending the case to the ADR Track for possible resolution before the adjourned date.

Present in court were Chief Tony Okoroji and renowned COSON Lawyer, Mr. James Ononiwu of Whitedove Solicitors.

ASU EKIYE STORMS LAGOS

ASU EKIYE STORMS LAGOS BIG FOR “COSON IN THE CHURCH”!

Multiple award-winning Nigerian gospel music star, Asu Ekiye, is storming Lagos next week to be a key part of the much talked about big biennial event of the music industry calledCOSON IN THE CHURCH which holds on the 1st day of December 2019. Asu Ekiye, also called “Prince of the Niger Delta”, will arrive Lagos with that vivacious special brand of gospel music for which he is very well known. Asu will be joining Nigeria’s topmost gospel artistes and several anointed ministers of the gospel from different denominations across the country for an unforgettable praise and worship gathering of the faithful for the Nigerian nation and its citizens faced with many challenges.

Asu Ekiye who for several years has beenpresident of Fellowship of Gospel Music Ministers of Nigeria FOGMNON was in 2017 appointed Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Government on Entertainment and Culture. Asu Ekiye has performed alongside the best of the best around the globe such as Kirk Franklin, Donnie McKlurkin, Cece Winans, Israel Houghton, Don Moen, Martha Munizzi and many more.

Celebrated former President of PMAN and current Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, says, ”I am so excited and proud that Asu Ekiye will be live at COSON IN THE CHURCH to light up the fire! He has assured me that no one who attends COSON IN THE CHURCH will leave without being touched by the spirit of God. Asu says that everyone coming to Revival Assembly for the big show has to dress cool because he plans to heat up the auditorium with the presence of the Almighty. He advises everyone coming to bring their clean white handkerchiefs for the special celebration”.

Also to be ushered on to the stage of COSON IN THE CHURCH is the evergreen minister of gospel music in Nigeria, Funmi Aragbaye who will be arriving Lagos from her Ibadan base. Dr. Aragbaye who is National President ofGospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN) has asked her many fans to throng Revival Assembly in Ikeja on the 1st of December for “a show of all shows”.

Speaking further, Chief Tony Okoroji who is producing the big event says, “all hands are on deck. Nigeria’s greatest gospel singers will be there. The most amazing and anointed men of God will pray for the Nigerian nation and for the families of all those present at this time of great challenges in our country. This is an important contribution of Nigerian musicians to national unity. Our host pastor, Apostle Anselm Madubuko, is giving us 100% support. The red carpet will be hot with paparazzi everywhere and there will be stars and stars every direction you look.

“This is an event that brings thousands of Nigerian musicians and their fans together to worship the Almighty in an interdenominational manner on a day that there are no separations whatsoever between God’s children. It does not matter which denomination you belong to or if you are not even a Christian, come to COSON IN THE CHURCH on the 1st of December and enter the Christmas season with God’s blessings”.

The big COSON IN THE CHURCH event flags off the 2019 COSON Week.

Peter Map Walker

For TOPS

Mike Aremu In COSON IN THE CHURCH 2019

A little over 2 weeks to go to the big show!

COSON in the Church!!!

All the systems are being readied. Revival Assembly is getting set. The artistes are tuning their voices and their instruments. The men of God are rehearsing their bible verses.. The people will be there dressed to finish. Flash bulbs will explode as paparazzi goes crazy to capture this incredible 1st of December event. Are you going to be there or you want to be told about it?