The Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) is pursuing both civil and criminal prosecutions against hotel operators in Abuja who have declined to obtain licences for musical works and sound recordings played in their facilities.
Speaking to the press, MCSN Abuja Manager, General Licensing, Moses Iorsheer, said the society “was set up to collectively manage rights in musical works and sound recordings of Nigerian and foreign artistes which has made them (MCSN) Owner, Assignee and Exclusive Licensee of copyright in musical works and sound recording in Nigeria.”
He added, “We have commenced filing cases against hotels, clubs, lounges, event centres, gardens, supermarkets and other outlets where music is performed in a public place without a licence from MCSN.”
Iorsheer also revealed that many other civil cases are being filed, while working with security agencies, MCSN has activated criminal investigations of many of these places. “Criminal charges against their owners and managers will be filed in no distant time,” he said.
He noted that the society is using “all available options to enforce our rights as copyright law allows criminal and civil prosecution of copyright offenders to go on at the same time.”
Giving background on similar cases, Iorsheer recalled, “Recall that on the 10th day of July, 2025 in the case filed by Bolton White Hotel against MCSN in suit no. FHC/ABU/CS/1840/2024 delivered by Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite, the Court delivered a ruling in favour of MCSN where Bolton White Hotel sought to obtain an interlocutory order restraining MCSN from demanding royalties in the sum of N64.4m from the Hotel and other reliefs. In that judgment Justice Nwite stated that ‘I am therefore in agreement with the Learned Council to the Respondent, the present application is incompetent… this Court finds that this application is incompetent and it’s hereby struck out.’”
The move sends a warning to hospitality businesses in Abuja and beyond: playing music in public spaces without proper licensing could lead to serious civil and criminal consequences.
