The Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, has dismissed the ₦5 billion copyright lawsuit filed against award winning gospel singer Sinach over her globally acclaimed song, “Way Maker.”
The lawsuit was filed by music producer Michael Oluwole, also known as Maye, who claimed to be a co author and co owner of the song. He sought recognition of ownership rights, a share of the song’s proceeds, and ₦5 billion in damages for alleged copyright infringement.
In its judgment, the court held that the plaintiff failed to prove authorship or co ownership of Way Maker. The court found that the song had already been written and performed by Sinach before Oluwole was engaged to provide mixing and mastering services for its commercial release, for which he was paid under an oral agreement.
The ruling has been welcomed by many supporters of the gospel artist, who described it as a significant legal victory and a reaffirmation of her ownership of one of the most influential worship songs of recent years. The case has also renewed conversations about the importance of clear contracts, copyright protection, and intellectual property rights within the music industry.
As the legal proceedings come to a close, the judgment highlights the importance of properly documenting creative collaborations to help prevent future disputes over authorship, ownership, and royalties.