The Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/Gte (MCSN) has strongly refuted allegations made against it by Mr Tony Okoroji, describing the claims as false, malicious and part of a long-running campaign aimed at undermining the organization.
In a statement signed on Tuesday in Abuja by its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Mayowa Ayilaran, MCSN responded to a recent press briefing issued under the name of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), in which Okoroji allegedly accused MCSN of being a “scam machine” established to siphon funds from Nigerian musicians.
MCSN dismissed the allegations as baseless and misleading, accusing Okoroji of attempting to influence government institutions, including the National Assembly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the courts through what it described as a campaign of misinformation.
According to MCSN, the dispute dates back to the early 1990s when amendments to Nigeria’s Copyright Act introduced a requirement for collective management organizations (CMOs) to obtain approval from the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC). The society stated that although it had been operating since 1984 and applied for approval when the process commenced, it was denied recognition while the then Performing and Mechanical Rights Society (PMRS), later renamed COSON, received approval.
MCSN claimed that it spent decades pursuing legal and administrative remedies to secure approval, eventually receiving support from the House of Representatives following a public hearing in 2013. The National Assembly reportedly directed the NCC to approve MCSN as a collecting society after hearing submissions from all stakeholders.
The organization further stated that its eventual approval in March 2017 followed the implementation of the National Assembly’s resolution and not any improper influence as alleged by Okoroji. It noted that subsequent legal actions challenging its approval were dismissed by the courts.
Responding to allegations concerning financial benefits received by MCSN, including N2.5 billion awarded following a Court of Appeal judgment involving Multichoice Nigeria Limited and funds distributed under the Levy Order Scheme, the society maintained that all transactions were lawful, transparent and subject to scrutiny by relevant government agencies.
MCSN also accused Okoroji of continuing to use the COSON name despite court judgments which it said questioned the legal status of the organization and directed that the name be removed from official records.
The society recalled several court cases involving COSON and the NCC over the suspension and eventual termination of COSON’s operating licence, noting that attempts to overturn those decisions had failed in court.
Furthermore, MCSN cited a defamation judgment in favour of its CEO, Mayowa Ayilaran, in which a court reportedly awarded N25 million in damages against Okoroji.
While assuring stakeholders in the music industry that it remains committed to transparency and the protection of creators’ rights, MCSN announced that it has formally petitioned law enforcement authorities against Okoroji over alleged criminal activities.
The organization expressed confidence that the facts would ultimately prevail and pledged to continue defending its reputation and role within Nigeria’s copyright administration system.