Nigerian born music legend Tuface Idibia has called on the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) to intervene in the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the Copyright Society Of Nigeria (COSON). This is contained in a petition addressed to the commission, lamenting that Efe Omorogbe and other COSON board members were being harassed and intimidated by the police in respect of the power tussle between Chief Tony Okoroji and Efe Omorogbe who are both laying claim to the leadership of the body.
Tuface in the petition accused Okoroji of fighting for the control of COSON for personal ends. The petition addressed to Alam Ezekudu, Director General (DG) of NCC was also sent to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and President Mohammadu Buhari.
It read: “It is quite unfortunate and disheartening that a simple call for accountability and transparency has degenerated into relentless media attack, harassment and intimidation of the group of people who made the call. The personal interest of a few should not supersede the collective interest of generality of members and over all well being of the society”.
“I will like to implore you to use your good office to engage the IGP with a view to setting the records straight and reversing the embarrassing and dangerous scenario where Mr Efe Omorogbe and Mr Joel Ajaji, Chairman and members of the commission recognised board acting well under the directive of regulators are now being harassed, intimidated, demonised and prosecuted by a sister government agency, the Nigeria Police Force”, he wrote.
The hip hop star noted that: “COSON is formed and built by the collective efforts of likeminded industry stalwarts and it will be a shame that the hard work that has gone into building the society go down the drain. Our CMO is under siege and our common health is threatened by Chief Tony Okoroji and his agents who for personal ends continue to demonstrate deep contempt for regulation and the call for accountability.
Omorogbe is the longtime manager of Tuface, the ‘African Queen’ Crooner. Meanwhile Audu Maikori, a director on the board of COSON recently advised Okoroji to let go of power or risk being disgraced like Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s ousted president.