Court Affirms Sinach As Sole Copyright Owner Of ‘Way Maker’

A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a N5 billion copyright suit against Nigerian gospel singer, Osinachi Joseph Egbu, popularly known as Sinach, affirming her as the sole author and copyright owner of the globally recognised song, Way Maker.

Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, in a judgment delivered on July 24, 2026, held that music producer, Michael Oluwole, failed to prove his claim that he was a co-author and co-owner of the award-winning song.

Oluwole had approached the court in March 2024, seeking an order recognising him as a co-author and co-owner of Way Maker.

He also sought a share of the revenue generated from the song, as well as N5 billion in damages for alleged infringement of his performer’s rights.

The court, however, found that Oluwole’s contribution to the song was restricted to mixing and mastering an already completed work for commercial release.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa held that Oluwole had been contracted and paid to provide those technical services and that his involvement did not confer copyright ownership on him.

The judgment stated, “evidence before the court showed that Sinach had created and performed the song before engaging Oluwole’s services”.

The court further observed that Sinach had performed Way Maker internationally before the song was produced in the studio.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa ruled “that copyright ownership belongs to the individual responsible for the original creative content of a work, including its melody, harmony, lyrics, or arrangement”.

He added that “technical contributors such as producers, engineers, and sound technicians do not automatically become authors unless they contribute original expressive content”.

The judge consequently described Oluwole’s suit as unmeritorious and dismissed all the claims contained in the case.

The court also reaffirmed Sinach’s exclusive rights over the reproduction, distribution, performance and licensing of Way Maker under Nigeria’s copyright laws.

Reacting to the judgment, Sinach and her husband, Joseph Egbu, chairman of Slic Inspire Ltd. and Gosgem Records, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision.

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