The Federal High Court in Lagos has brought the long-running legal dispute over Way Maker to an end, ruling in favour of Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Joseph Egbu known as Sinach, dismissing the ₦5 billion copyright suit filed against her.
Music producer, Michael Oluwole (Maye Muzik), filed the lawsuit in March 2024 claiming to be a co-author and co-owner of the globally acclaimed worship song. He argued that his role in producing the track entitled him to ownership rights, a share of royalties and licensing income, and ₦5 billion naira in damages. He also sought an injunction to stop Sinach from exploiting the song without his consent.
However, Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that Oluwole failed to prove he made any original creative contribution that would qualify him as a co-author under Nigerian copyright law. The court found that Way Maker had already been written, arranged and publicly performed by Sinach including an earlier performance in South Africa before the producer was hired to mix and master it for its commercial release in 2015.
The judge ruled that while music producers provide valuable technical services, those services do not automatically confer copyright ownership. Since Oluwole was contracted and paid for his production work under an oral agreement. He could not later claim ownership of the composition without evidence of original creative input such as writing the lyrics, melody, or musical arrangement.
Following the proceedings, the court dismissed all of the producer’s claims and reaffirmed Sinach as the sole author and copyright owner of Way Maker. The judgment gives her exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, license and earn royalties from the song.
Background of The Song, Way Maker
The acclaimed song Way Maker was released in 2015, and became one of the most influential worship songs in the world. Also, it has been translated into multiple languages, covered by internationally renowned Christian artists, topped worship charts, and earned major honours, including the GMA Dove Award for Song of the Year in 2020.
