25/02/2026
*The End of "Musical Shakedowns": A Victory for Common Sense in the Hospitality Industry*
For years, hotel owners in Asaba and across the region have operated under a shadow of legal ambiguity and, often, the literal shadow of handcuffs. The practice was as predictable as it was questionable: representatives of a copyright collective, flanked by armed security, would descend upon a hotel demanding millions in "musical levies." If the manager didn’t pay up for the music playing on the lobby’s DSTV, they were whisked away to a police cell.
On February 19, 2026, the Federal High Court in Warri finally pulled the plug on this performance.
*The Death of the "Double Dip"*
In the case of The Registered Trustees of Asaba Hotel Proprietors Association & Anor vs. Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/Gte (MCSN), the court addressed a fundamental absurdity.
The plaintiffs, represented by His-Greatness Agadaigho, argued a point that every traveler and business owner has long suspected: if a hotel is already paying monthly subscriptions to providers like MultiChoice (DSTV), where does the MCSN get the right to demand an additional ₦41 million for those same broadcasts?
The court's judgment was unequivocal. It upheld that the MCSN lacks the power to demand or collect these exorbitant fees because they are simply not provided for under the Copyright Act 2022.
*Policing for Profit?*
Perhaps the most damning aspect of this saga isn't just the "non-existent" legal provisions cited by the MCSN, but the methods used to enforce them. The use of the Nigerian Police Force to arrest and detain directors and managers over a civil fee dispute is a heavy-handed tactic that belongs in a bygone era.
By awarding ₦5 million in damages against the MCSN, the court didn't just rule on a point of law; it sent a stern rebuke against the culture of intimidation.
*THE VERDICT*
The Court’s decision is a masterclass in statutory clarity. You can not invent a levy out of thin air and enforce it with a badge.
This judgment is a massive win for the hospitality sector. It draws a clear line between legitimate intellectual property protection and what can only be described as a "regulatory shakedown." Organizations like the MCSN must now operate within the strict confines of the Copyright Act 2022, rather than relying on the "force of arms" and creative interpretations of the law.
For the hotelier in Asaba, the music can finally play without the fear of the sirens following closely behind.
A POV NIGERIA EDITORIAL
For product advertising placements (on our Try-weekly Editorials POV DIGEST or on Our Daily Newspaper Reviews), write us at [email protected] or call 08089931115
Please share and follow on Facebook & TikTok NG . Watch our videos and subscribe on YouTube
Support our Independent Journalism work on 8089931115 Opay
Thank you.
