The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a ₦5 billion copyright infringement suit filed against gospel singer Osinachi Joseph Egbu, affirming that she is the sole author and owner of her globally celebrated song, Way Maker.
In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/402/2024, music producer Michael Oluwole, popularly known as Maye, had claimed he was a co-author and co-owner of the hit worship song. He sought a declaration entitling him to a share of all proceeds from the song’s licences and commercial exploitation, alleged infringement of his performer’s rights, and demanded ₦5 billion in damages alongside other reliefs.
However, delivering judgment, Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa ruled that the plaintiff failed to establish any legal basis for his claims.
The court held that the evidence presented showed that Way Maker had already been written, performed and existed as a complete musical work before the producer became involved. According to the judgment, Sinach had previously performed the song, including during a performance in South Africa, before engaging Oluwole to mix and master it for its commercial release in 2015.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa found that the producer was contracted solely to provide technical production services under an oral agreement and was duly compensated for that work.
The judge explained that copyright ownership belongs to the individual who creates the original creative elements of a musical work, including its melody, lyrics, harmony or arrangement. He noted that providing technical production, engineering or instrumental support does not automatically confer authorship unless the contributor creates original expressive content.
The court further observed that the plaintiff’s own testimony confirmed that Sinach brought the already composed song to him for professional production services, undermining his claim of co-authorship.
Describing the lawsuit as “gold-digging and unmeritorious,” the judge dismissed the case in its entirety.
Throughout the proceedings, Sinach, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Emeka Etiaba, denied the allegations, insisting that she independently composed and arranged Way Maker before the producer’s involvement.
She maintained that Oluwole’s contribution was limited to mixing the recording and that he had been fully paid for those services. The singer also argued that she had already established herself internationally before the release of Way Maker and that the song was entirely her intellectual creation.
Following the verdict, Sinach and the management companies overseeing her career, Slic Inspire Ltd and Gosgem Records, expressed appreciation to their legal team led by Etiaba for successfully defending the case.
The judgment effectively confirms Sinach’s exclusive ownership and authorship of Way Maker, one of the most successful gospel songs to emerge from Nigeria.
Released in 2015, the song has achieved worldwide recognition, becoming the first Nigerian gospel track to surpass 100 million views on YouTube in 2019. It has received several international honours, including the GMA Dove Award for Song of the Year, has been translated into more than 50 languages, and recorded by dozens of Christian artistes worldwide, including Michael W. Smith and Bethel Music.
The ruling is also expected to serve as an important judicial reference in future copyright and intellectual property disputes within Nigeria’s music industry.
