Okafor’s law! Things get worse for Omoni Oboli as court orders seizure of copies

Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an
Anton Piller order, directing the seizure of a film titled “Okafor’s
Law” directed by Nollywood Producer, Omoni Oboli.
The court also issued an interim order, suspending the release and
launch of the film, in any movie theatre or cinema house onMarch 31,
pending the determination of a motion on notice before the court.

The judge ordered the seizure of all copies, materials, projections or infringing materials, relating to the subject matter.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the orders followed an ex parte
application filed by a company, Rancoteur Productions Ltd, on behalf of a
Canada based script writer, Jude Idada.
Idada lays claim to the film “Okafor’s Law” as his intellectual property.

The plaintiff had filed the suit through Anthony Idigbe, seeking an
order, halting the premiere and release of the said “Okafor’s Law”,
pending the determination of a copyright infringement suit filed against
Oboli.
Joined as first to third defendants in the suit are: Dioni Visions Entertainment, Omoni Oboli, and The Filmore Ltd.
The plaintiff, in its exparte application, had sought an order,
restraining the premiere or release of the said film, as well as an
anton piller order, seizing all copies of the infringing material.

The exparte application was moved in terms by counsel from the law firm
of Idigbe, O. Otudor, who urged the court to grant the orders as prayed.
Delivering his ruling on the exparte motion, Justice Buba granted the orders as prayed.
The court made the following orders:

“An order of interim injunction, restraining the first to third
defendants, whether by themselves or their privies, from premiering the
feature film “Okafor’s Law”, in Lagos or any part of Nigeria, pending
the hearing of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction, restraining the defendant from
releasing the featured film in any movie theatre or Cinema house on
March 31, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction, restraining the defendants from
distributing the featured film, pending the determination of the motion
on notice.
“An Anton piller order is granted to the plaintiff, to enter into the
defendant’s premises, Cinema, Studio and other places of dissemination,
to seize all copies of infringing materials relating to subject matter.
“An order, directing the defendants to deliver and surrender to the
plaintiff’s solicitors, all products and packages with the inscription,
“Okafor’s Law” and volume of transaction or trade which have been done
by defendants.
“An order directing the defendants to permit the court’s bailiff, and
such other persons not exceeding four (4), to enter the premises on any
working day of Monday to Saturday at 8am to 8pm, to remove all products
or packages with the name “Okafor’s Law”
“An order for a search to be conducted at Viva Heights Odudu Eleyiwo St,
Block 15, plot 17 Oniru Victoria Island, and Plot 1378D Joseph Namah
close, off Karimu Kotun St, Victoria Island and all other places where
Okafor’s Law is stored and sold
“An order declaring that a failure of defendants to comply with the
court’s order, will put the plaintiff at liberty to apply for committal
to prison of such person,”

The court thereafter, fixed March 29 for hearing of the motion on notice.
NAN reports that the movie “Okafor’s Law” is billed for release on March 31,

Jude Idada had accused Oboli of copyright infringement on the “Okafor’s
Law” movie, adding that she had stolen his story idea for the movie in
September 2016.
He alleged that Oboli took the work he had done regarding “Okafor’s Law”, and developed it without giving him due credit.

He avers that the producer, however, went ahead to set March 31, as a
release date for the movie, in spite of a demand letter sent to her, as
well as a copyright infringement suit instituted.

NAN reports that “Okafor’s Law” stars: Richard Mofe Damijo, Toyin
Aimakhu, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Ken Erics, Yvonne Jegede, Halima Abubakar,
Gabriel Afolayan, Funke Bucknor among other Nollywood actors and
actresses.

Oboli is a popular Nollywood Producer, actress, Director and script writer. Follow us on Instagram @sofovilla | Follow us on Twitter @sofovilla | Like our page on Facebook via @sofovillamedia