Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal
High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed October 16, 2013 for the
commencement of trial in a N120 million copyright suit filed against popular
music star, Innocent Idibia, a.k.a. TuFace, his wife, Annie Idibia and
their manager, Anthonio Anifite over photographs allegedly taken at the
recent traditional wedding of the musician and his wife in Akwa Ibom State.
Abuja
based photographer, Emmanuel Okolo, who is the plaintiff in the suit alongside
his studio, Papilonmexy filed suit against the defendants.
He is
asking for six reliefs, two of which include N100 million in general damages
and N20million in exemplary damages.
At the
resumed hearing of the case yesterday, neither TuFace nor his wife was
represented in court. Anifite who is the second defendant was however
represented by his counsel, J.O Uttute.
Meanwhile,
a mild drama ensued when the judge openly admonished Uttute after the latter
claimed that he had filed his defence when he had not done so.
The
judge warned him not to come to this court again if he was not prepared for the
case. “You told me that you have filed your response, but looking through
here, there is nothing to that effect. And you are even smiling. Do you think
you are here to joke? Never come to this court again if you are not prepared.
You don’t even know when the case was filed and you are not prepared for it,”
said the judge.
Also,
the plaintiff’s counsel, Habeeb Oredola expressed worry over the
defendants’ inability to appear before the court or be represented
by a counsel after they were served with the writs of summon.
In the
writ of summon, Okolo and his studio claimed they were contracted by TuFace’s
wife through a third party, identified as Ms Chineze Anyaene to take photo
shots at the traditional wedding held in Eket, Akwa Ibom state in March, 2013.
The
plaintiff said, he was reluctant at the beginning since the offer was coming
through a third party, but later accepted after he was convinced that the offer
was actually with the blessing of the first defendant.
Annie
Idibia was said to have later contacted the photographer after the wedding and
demanded for the printing of 10 of the high resolution pictures taken.
Source: Vanguard
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