Court dismisses N5bn copyright suit, confirms Sinach as sole owner of ‘Way Maker’

A Federal High Court successful Lagos has dismissed a N5 cardinal copyright suit filed against acclaimed Nigerian gospel singer, Osinachi Joseph Egbu, popularly known arsenic Sinach, affirming her arsenic the sole writer and copyright proprietor of the globally celebrated song, Way Maker.

Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, who delivered the judgement connected July 24, 2026, ruled that euphony producer, Michael Oluwole failed to found claims of co-authorship and co-ownership of the award-winning song.

Oluwole had approached the tribunal successful March 2024, seeking ineligible designation arsenic a co-author and co-owner of Way Maker. 

He besides demanded a stock of revenues generated from the opus and requested N5 cardinal successful damages, alleging infringement of his performer’s rights.

However, the tribunal held that the producer’s engagement was constricted to mixing and mastering an already existing enactment for commercialized merchandise aft being contracted and paid for his services.

According to the judgment, “evidence earlier the tribunal showed that Sinach had created and performed the opus earlier engaging Oluwole’s services”.

 The tribunal noted that she had performed Way Maker internationally anterior to its workplace production.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa stated “that copyright ownership belongs ...