Ewa Cole hits Funke Akindele, JJC Skillz with N300m alleged copyright infringement suit

Ewa Cole, a Guinness World Record holder, has filed a 300 million naira lawsuit against filmmaker Funke Akindele and her ex-husband JJC Skillz for copyright infringement.

Ewa Cole accused Funke and JJC of infringing on her copyright in their series She Must Be Obeyed. The five-part Prime Video series starred Fuke, Nancy Isime, Lateef Adedimeji, Akah Nnani, Veeiye, Waje, Patience Ozokwo, Rachael Okonkwo, and Mike Ezuronye.

In a petition filed before the federal high court in Lagos, through Adewale Williams, her legal representative, Ewa Cole claimed she owns the right to ‘Opoor’ and ‘Bhad Garl’, two of the songs allegedly reproduced in SHE Must Be Obeyed.

Tony Ugiagbe (Topage), Waje, Veeiye, Amazon Web Services Nigeria Ltd. (BoomPlay), Amazon Web Services Inc., and Apple Inc. are also listed as defendants in the lawsuit.

Ewa Cole alleged that ‘Bhad Gyal’ and ‘Opoor’ were reproduced by Waje and Veeiye after Topage, the song producer, informed her that her works were rejected.

She said the songs were reproduced without “permission or approval” and no credit was given to her.

Ewa Cole is also demanding N300 million in damages for the alleged infringement of her work.

The 29-year-old asked that the court grant a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further copyrighting, performing, or reproducing her musical works.

She also prayed that the court would order the defendants to share 45 percent of the profits made in the use, performance, reproduction, and distribution of the two songs.