The former members of Plantashun Boyz, Innocent
‘2baba’ Idibia and Ahmedu ‘Black Face’ Obiabo
have finally ended their three-year dispute.
Both artistes opted for an out-of-court settlement
for their ongoing copyright infringement battle in
Lagos today.
2baba reached an out-of-court settlement with
Black Face, whom he filed a N50 million libel suit
against.
The erstwhile best friends came to an agreement at
a mediation process held in the presence of 2baba’s
manager, Efe Omorogbe, and Black Face’s lawyer,
Manny Enajeroh, in Lagos on Wednesday.
A mediator, Ronke Kuku, oversaw the process at the
Ikeja High Court Alternative Dispute Resolution
Centre (ADR) section.
After the successful mediation, Blackface promised
not to publicly accuse 2baba again while 2baba
agreed to make all the necessary corrections and
amendments that had prevented Black Face from
receiving royalties.
Black Face had claimed ownership of two of
2baba’s biggest hits, ‘Let Somebody Love You’ and
‘African Queen’ in the last three years.
A source revealed the outcome of the mediation
process to PREMIUM TIMES under the condition of
anonymity.
The source, involved in the process, said, “The
settlement is confidential and was done behind
closed doors. The true story is that Black Face’s
name was misspelt on the tracklisting for ‘Let
Somebody Love You’ which was written by him and
performed by 2baba.
“This created some problems and prevented Black
Face from claiming royalties from the song from
the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and other
collecting societies.
“So both parties agreed to regularise Black Face’s
position as the writer (owner) of ‘African queen’
and get all the royalties from the track. Both
lawyers decided that mediation was better than a
court trial since both artistes are friends.
On his part, 2baba agreed to regularise all the places where Black
Face was not initially credited. When both artistes met each other in
a room today, they discussed like brothers and trashed all the issues
they had against each other.”
Black Face’s counsel, Mani Enajeroh, declined to comment when
contacted. 2baba’s manager also did not respond to calls and text
messages from PREMIUM TIMES.
Background
Blackface had levelled several allegations of song theft against 2Baba
on social media.
He claimed to have written the songs while both of them were
members of the defunct Plantashun Boyz.
2baba responded by filing a N50 million libel suit against Black
Face.
The case was brought before Justice Oyefeso for the first time on
March 20, but the ruling was adjourned.
After Plantashun Boiz split in 2004, Black Face led a solo musical
career.
He released the hip-hop album Ghetto Child in 2004, collaborating
with a number of artistes.
He also recorded a full album for his crew, D Tribunal, called What
We Are.
In 2013, he made a collaborative album 200 with Maine Eazz.
In January 2016, Black Face in a series of tweets lashed out at 2baba
and his manager, accusing them of stealing his intellectual property
and even threatening to take them to court.
Since then, Black Face has refused to renege on his statements.
Black Face, 2Baba and Faze, members of Plantashun Boiz, reunited
in 2007 for an album called ‘Plan B’.
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