A major legal dispute has emerged concerning the ownership rights to Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy’s early musical works, placing his foundational recordings in legal jeopardy.
960 Music Group, a minority shareholder in Burna Boy’s former label Aristokrat Music, has filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify the multimillion-dollar sale of the artist’s early catalogue to his current company, Spaceship Music.
According to court documents, Aristokrat Music sold the intellectual property and master recordings from Burna Boy’s early career to Spaceship Music—owned by the singer and his mother-manager Bose Ogulu—in a transaction finalized around May/June 2024.
960 Music Group, which holds a 40% stake in Aristokrat, claims it was completely excluded from the deal. The company alleges the sale was conducted without its knowledge, consent, or required board approval, describing the catalogue as Aristokrat’s “crown jewel asset.”
The civil lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, has escalated into a criminal investigation. The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) has brought charges against Piriye Isokrari, founder and CEO of Aristokrat Records. He faces accusations of fraudulent conversion and breach of fiduciary duty, with investigators alleging proceeds from the sale were diverted for personal use or moved outside company accounts.
960 Music claims Isokrari bypassed corporate governance to arrange a private deal with Spaceship Music, sidelining the interests of minority shareholders.
The outcome of the case could have significant implications for Burna Boy’s early hits. A ruling in favor of 960 Music may force Spaceship Music to relinquish rights to the catalogue, casting uncertainty over the commercial control of these works.
The dispute remains ongoing as legal proceedings continue.
Posts
0 Comments