Lagos — It was a mixture of tension and jubilation at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos on Monday, February 1, as gaily dressed Nigerian artistes and other music industry stakeholders stormed the court with colourful placards and a firm resolve. They had come to court to witness the historic arraignment of a suspect alleged to be one of the kingpins of music and video piracy in the nation.

The huge courtroom of Hon. Justice Okon Abang was full with music industry stakeholders who had come to see for themselves the proceedings as Tony Onwujekwe, alias "Alaba King of Pirates" or "Eze Ndi Awalawa" was placed on the dock and criminal charges read to him.

There was pin drop silence in the court as the three count charges of piracy of thousands of copies of the music of various Nigerian artistes including P Square, African China, X Project, Bracket, Tuface Idibia, Plantation Boyz, Buchi, etc, were read to him. Mr. Onwujekwe, who was ordered to be remanded in prison custody pending a written application for bail, pleaded "not guilty" to all the charges. The case was adjourned to February 18 and 23 for trial.

Many entertainment industry stakeholders such as Kelvin Luciano of Questionmark Entertainment, Charles Novia of November Records, Cally Ikpe of Calivision, Don T of Nowmuzik and Toni Payne were there.

Several star artistes such as Tuface Idibia, Muma Gee, W4, Solid Star, Charlimo Imoloame and Eppi Fanio were also present. Equally present were the heavyweights of the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition like Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Mr. Toju Ejueyitchie, Managing Director, Premier Music Publishing Ltd and Chairman of Nigerian Association of Recording Industries (NARI), Hon. John Ewelukwa Udegbunam, President, Music Label Owners & Recording Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN), Mr. Efe Omorogbe of Association of Music Business Professionals (AMB. PRO) and ace producer, Mr. Laolu Akins.

The music industry stakeholders staged a rally at the court premises which brought activities to a standstill at the premises for a significant period. The jubilant stakeholders displayed placards with inscriptions such as "End of the Road for King of Pirates", "1000 Years in Jail 4 Alaba King of Pirates!", "No Hanky Panky, No 'Settlement', Kill Piracy Today in Naija!", "Finally! Nigerian Musicians on the March, Pirates on the Run! " etc

Addressing journalists at the court premises, Chief Tony Okoroji, who spoke on behalf of the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition said, "The historic arraignment in court of Mr. Tony Onwujekwe, alias "King of Pirates", alias "Eze Ndi Awalawa", one of the alleged kingpins of the Alaba piracy cabal, should be enough warning to all that it is no longer business as usual. It should be enough proof that there is a new reality in Nigeria that no pirate is too big to be arrested and none too powerful to be prosecuted. Let no one be in doubt of our resolve to go after the rest of the cabal at Alaba that has held the music and video industries hostage for so long".