A Federal High Court in Ikoyi has ordered Airtel Networks Limited to pay ₦210 million in damages to veteran Nigerian singer Veno Marioghae-Mbanefo over the unauthorised commercial use of her classic song Nigeria Go Survive.
Justice Ibrahim Kala handed down the judgment after finding that Airtel had used the musical work without permission to promote its products and services, a violation of the Copyright Act. The award consists of damages and costs, reflecting the court’s determination that the telecommunications firm breached the artist’s intellectual property rights.
The ruling also includes an injunction restraining Airtel and its agents from reproducing or using the work for advertising, telemarketing or promotional purposes without proper authorisation from the copyright holder.
Mbanefo’s legal action dates back to a suit filed in September 2022, after she discovered the song had been used on some Airtel marketing platforms without consent. Her counsel argued that the unauthorised use deprived her of rightful earnings and violated her exclusive rights as the song’s author.
Legal experts say the judgment strengthens enforcement of copyright protections in Nigeria’s entertainment sector and underscores the risks companies face when using creative works without licences.
