The accelerated hearing request made by Bukola Elemide (Asa), Peace Emmanuel Oredope (P.Priime), and RUE 11 Limited for the lawsuit brought by Micheal Chigozie Alagwu (Tempoe) for copyright infringement was denied by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
A document acquired revealed that one of Nigeria’s largest music producers, Tempoe, acquired a temporary order against popular Nigerian singer Asa, music producer P.Priime, music distribution company Platoon, and RUE 11 Limited from a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The plaintiff in the case with file number FHC/L/CS/1262/2022 was successful in getting an interim injunction directing that the music be removed from all platforms while the case is being decided on September 26, 2022.
In a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by Micheal Chigozie Alagwu (Tempoe), Bukola Elemide (ASA), Peace Emmanuel Oredope (P.Priime), and RUE 11 Limited are co-defendants alongside Platoon Limited over two songs, “IDG” and “Love Me or Give Me Red Wine,” that were featured on Asa’s 2022 album “V.”
Content Of The Rejected Application
- AN ORDER for the leave of the Honorable Court to hear the Defendants/Applicants’ Motion on Notice dated 1st August 2022 during the 2022 annual vacation by a vacation Judge of this Honourable Court.
- And for such order or other orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.
After careful consideration of the application and submissions of counsel, the court duly refused the application to fast-track the hearing. . The order was issued in Lagos, and under the seal of this Honourable Court and by the hand of the presiding judge on August 22, 2022.
What’s at stake?
Nigerian courts have a three-month vacation each year. Asa, Platoon, Rue 11, and P.Priime will continue to lose money as a result of the temporary order issued by the federal high court on July 20, 2022. They most likely filed an ex parte move to expedite the hearing for this reason despite the court holidays.