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A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has dismissed a criminal case connected to the controversial sale of Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy’s early music catalogue after criticizing the police for failing to prosecute the matter diligently.
The ruling marks a significant development in a long-running dispute involving ownership rights and proceeds from some of the singer’s earliest recordings, which played a major role in establishing his career in the Nigerian music industry.
The controversy revolves around the transfer of Burna Boy’s early catalogue from Aristokrat Records to Spaceship Music, a music company owned by the Grammy-winning artiste and his mother and manager, Bose Ogulu.
At the center of the dispute is the ownership of several projects and recordings released during the early stages of Burna Boy’s career. These include the critically acclaimed projects L.I.F.E and Redemption, alongside other songs that contributed significantly to his rise to prominence both in Nigeria and internationally.
The legal battle began when 960 Music Group challenged the transaction. The company, which reportedly owns a 40 percent stake in Aristokrat Music, argued that it was not consulted before the catalogue was transferred.
According to the company, the sale was conducted without its knowledge or approval despite its financial interest in the label. As a result, it sought legal remedies aimed at reversing the transaction and recovering proceeds allegedly generated from the sale.
As tensions over the matter grew, the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) became involved and initiated criminal proceedings against Piriye Isokrari, founder of Aristokrat Records.
The police alleged that proceeds from the catalogue transaction were diverted from company accounts in a manner that denied 960 Music Group access to funds it was entitled to receive.
The case was subsequently filed before Justice Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos and was scheduled for arraignment.
However, when the matter came up in court on Wednesday, neither the prosecution team nor representatives of the defendant were present.
Court proceedings revealed that the lead prosecutor was reportedly handling another matter before the Court of Appeal in Jos at the time. While an explanation was offered regarding the prosecutor’s absence, the court declined to accept it.
Justice Kakaki reportedly noted that another lawyer could have been assigned to handle the case rather than allowing proceedings to be delayed yet again.
The court also expressed concern over the manner in which the matter had been handled since it was first filed.
According to the judge, despite several previous appearances by different prosecutors, the charge had still not been properly served on the defendant.
The court recalled that it had earlier granted permission for substituted service after the defendant failed to appear on previous hearing dates.
However, despite that order, there was no evidence before the court showing compliance with the directive or any meaningful effort to advance the prosecution.
Justice Kakaki criticized the apparent lack of commitment shown in pursuing the matter and emphasized that courts could not continue entertaining cases that were not being diligently prosecuted.
Following the repeated delays and failure to comply with procedural requirements, the court struck out the criminal charge.
The case had initially been mentioned in December 2025 and was subsequently adjourned to February and April 2026. However, the matter failed to make significant progress during those appearances due to the absence of relevant parties.
Although the criminal proceedings have now been dismissed, legal experts note that the decision does not permanently prevent authorities from reopening the matter.
Prosecutors retain the option of refiling or reviving the case in the future, provided the necessary legal and procedural requirements are properly fulfilled.
Meanwhile, the broader dispute remains far from over.
A separate civil action filed by 960 Music Group against Aristokrat Records is still pending before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
In that suit, the company is seeking an order to nullify the catalogue transfer and recover proceeds allegedly generated from the disputed transaction.
With the civil proceedings still active, the legal battle over Burna Boy’s early music catalogue appears set to continue despite the collapse of the criminal case.
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