ARCHBISHOP MARGARET BENSON IDAHOSA’S CHURCH OF GOD MISSION INTERNATIONAL (CGMI) DRAGGED TO FEDERAL HIGH COURT OVER PIRACY OF DR. EKERETE JACKSON BoEKOM: FORMER CHOIR DIRECTOR’S MUSICAL DEBUT.

ARCHBISHOP MARGARET BENSON IDAHOSA’S CHURCH OF GOD MISSION INTERNATIONAL (CGMI) DRAGGED TO FEDERAL HIGH COURT OVER PIRACY OF DR. EKERETE JACKSON BoEKOM: FORMER CHOIR DIRECTOR’S MUSICAL DEBUT.

 

1.​Dr. Ekerete Jackson BoEKOM is a performing musician; and the composer, author and original owner of the album, musical work and sound recordings titled: “Amanam – Sosono” which he devoted time, effort and expense and first released in his album “He is my everything – Amanam” in 1998 when he was the choir director of the Church in Uyo Branch of the Church.

 

2.​Dr. Ekerete Jackson BoEKOM also made several public performances of the song after its release, video recording and a remix of the music in 2007. When Late Archbishop Benson Idahosa visited the Uyo Branch of CGMI in 1998, for the Akwa Ibom State Bishopric Convention, Dr. Ekerete was the lead singer of the song, the performance of which the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa commended the said musical work of Dr. Ekerete which also projected Dr. Ekerete as one of the rising gospel musicians from the Church. The Late Archbishop Benson Idahosa was so elated by the performance that he asked Pastor Mrs. Enobong Esenam, the then Pastor of Miracle Ministers, Akwa Ibom State Bishopric Choir to come over to Benin for a special gift to the entire Miracle Ministers for the great performance which was not done because shortly after, the Archbishop Benson Idahosa passed on.

 

3.​Surprisingly, the Church under the leadership of Archbishop Margaret Benson Idahosa, instead of encouraging the work of Dr. Ekerete went behind and used its Choir: Christian Redemption Voices (CRV) at Benin (Edo State) to covet and publish the song into an album which they released for public sale in 2013 with FREKE UMOH as their lead singer in the album, this came after Dr. Ekerete had remixed the song and put for public viewing on YouTube in 2011, thereby engaging in piracy which led to the action in copyright violation at the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

 

4.​Dr. Ekerete is claiming damages for violation of his copyright.  

 

5.​When the case was first heard in Federal High Court Uyo, before Hon. Justice Adegoke, there was a quick attempt by the Church Presiding Bishop in Uyo, Bishop Sunny Ugba alongside Archbishop Margaret Benson Idahosa to destroy the suit by seeking for the case to be struck out for lack of jurisdiction on ground that the headquarters of the Church is in Benin while the Suit was instituted in Uyo were the church has its branch. This was contained in the objections filed by Nyong Nyong, Esq. and Olayiwola Afolabi Esq. counsel for Bishop Ugba and Arch Bishop Margaret B. Idahosa but the move failed on the stiff response of Dr. Ekerete’s lawyer Ifeanyi Idika, Esq. as the objection was refused. Instead the case was transferred to Federal High Court Benin which becomes the new centre stage for determination of the action which kicks off in Benin in June 2022.

#Phremztv 

#Crediblenews