Mohbad : PMAN Decries Failure Of Musicians To Join Association

By Oduyemi Odumade,

The President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, Mr. Pretty Okafor, has expressed his belief that the late musician, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, could have resolved the controversies surrounding unpaid royalties with his former record label, Marlian Records, if he had been a member of PMAN.

Mr. Okafor stated this when he appeared before a House of Representatives adhoc Commitee investigating the circumstances of Mohbad’s death, with a particular focus on allegations of harassment and unpaid royalties.

In his testimony, Mr. Okafor emphasized the importance of musicians to be active members of PMAN, highlighting the benefits the association offers, including the ability to resolve contractual issues between them and record labels.

He lamented that many new musicians had failed to recognize the value of joining PMAN.

“PMAN, which is considered a trade union for musicians, has a history of advocating for the rights and welfare of artists in Nigeria. The association has played a pivotal role in addressing various challenges faced by musicians, including issues related to royalties, copyright, and contracts with record labels.”

He said, “We engage the music managers association of Nigeria. We engage the record label association of Nigeria and we also engage the artistes. That is why it is difficult to manage the crisis that erupted now. Some of them believe that PMAN is archaic. Some of them believe that it is only for old people. Some of them, the record labels manipulate their psyche not to make them stay under the authority of PMAN that is why this kind of crisis emerged.

“So if we reach out to the record label association they will need to reach out to their artistes. They must be a member of PMAN so that we can protect their interests and also protect the interest of the record label owners because they are supposed to get certification from PMAN.

“The structure has been that the record label association and record label owners must be registered members of the union so that they can be monitored and guided. Same with the musicians. Also the music managers are supposed to be part.

“We have a lot of people under PMAN including Tuface, MI, Banky W and so on. They all belong to the association. But the younger ones maybe their managers and record labels were not passing positive messages to them and that is why it was difficult for them to join the union.

Also speaking the late Mohbad’s lawyer, Selzing Zingfa
explained that before the demise of his client he had some arrangements with Marlian Records which are still subject of dispute.

“ While he worked with them in some sense he released an Extended Play, EP and number of singles. Now those songs are subject to litigation which he was in court for prior to his demise. Subsequently sometime in October last year, he set up his own label, Imolenization Limited, and he released an EP which he received the revenue for directly to himself because he was the sole owner of the company. So on the EP which is called “blessed” it is fully secured.

“What we have been trying to retrieve prior to his demise and currently are the EP and singles. Those are still being controlled by the Marlian records and distributed through their distributors. That is what we have been in court trying to resolve until now, up until his demise and we are still in court for that.”

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Olumide Osoba, said they were committed to ensuring issues pertaining to the late musician’s royalties and entitlements are resolved.

Edited By Grace Namiji