A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a N500 million lawsuit filed against popular singer Kingsley Okonkwo, known as KCee, and two others, over alleged copyright infringement of the song *Som Too Chukwu*. The suit, filed by gospel music composer Jude Nnam, also named Five Star Music Limited and Emeka Okonkwo (also known as E-Money) as defendants.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Kehinde Ogundare, the court ruled that the plaintiff, Jude Nnam, failed to substantiate his claim of copyright infringement. Additionally, the court awarded a punitive cost of N1 million against the plaintiff.
Nnam had alleged that KCee included *Som Too Chukwu*, a song he claimed to have produced in 2001, in his album *Cultural Praise* without consent or authorization. He argued that this amounted to an infringement on his copyright and ownership rights.
In their defense, the defendants denied producing any song titled *Som Too Chukwu* and argued that the disputed phrases were taken from the Holy Bible, specifically the book of Psalms, which cannot be copyrighted.
Justice Ogundare upheld the defendants’ argument, stating that the plaintiff could not claim ownership of a phrase from the Bible. The court subsequently dismissed the suit, concluding that Nnam did not prove his case of copyright infringement.
