Gospel music superstar Sinach has scored a major legal victory after a Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed a N5 billion copyright claim over her global hit song “Way Maker.”
The suit, numbered FHC/L/CS/402/2024, was filed by music producer Michael Oluwole, also known as Maye. He claimed to be an author and co-owner of the song and sought N5 billion in general damages, a share of licensing fees, and other reliefs related to alleged infringement of performer’s rights.
Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court threw out the entire case. The court held that the plaintiff failed to prove authorship or co-ownership of the musical work.
According to the judgment, “Way Maker” was created and performed by Sinach, including a prior performance in South Africa, long before Oluwole was engaged. He was only brought in later to mix and master the existing song for commercial release in 2015 under an oral agreement for a fee.
The judge stressed a key principle of copyright law: authorship belongs to the natural person who creates the original expressive content such as the melody, harmony, lyrics or arrangement. A producer or engineer does not become an author simply by providing technical support. The court described the plaintiff’s case as “gold-digging and unmeritorious.”
Sinach, whose full name is Mrs Osinachi Joseph Egbu, maintained throughout that she is the sole author of the song. Her legal team, led by Emeka Etiaba (SAN), successfully argued that the producer was fully compensated for his technical work and had no claim to ownership.
“Way Maker” remains one of the most successful Nigerian gospel songs of all time. It became the first Nigerian gospel track to surpass 100 million views on YouTube in March 2019, won the GMA Dove Award for Song of the Year, has been translated into more than 50 languages, and has been covered by over 60 Christian artists including Michael W. Smith and Bethel Music. The song also gained widespread use in churches across the United States and featured in public moments of solidarity.
Sinach and her husband Joseph Egbu, who manages her through Slic Inspire Ltd and Gosgem Records, expressed gratitude to their legal team for the favourable outcome. The ruling reaffirms her sole ownership of the hit and stands as an important precedent for intellectual property disputes in the Nigerian music industry.
This victory ends a legal battle that began when the suit was filed in 2024 and protects one of Africa’s most recognised worship anthems.