01/08/2026
🚨 COURT AFFIRMS SINACH AS SOLE AUTHOR OF "WAY MAKER"
The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to declare another individual a co-author and co-owner of Sinach's globally acclaimed song, "Way Maker."
Here's what happened:
A music producer/engineer, Michael Oluwole, sued Sinach (Osinachi Joseph Egbu), claiming he was a co-author and co-owner of her globally famous song "Way Maker."
He argued that because he worked on the song, he deserved:
Recognition as a co-author.
Shared ownership of the copyright.
A share of all income from the song's licensing and use.
₦5 billion in damages and other reliefs.
However, after hearing the evidence, the Federal High Court in Lagos rejected all of those claims.
According to the press release, the court found that:
Sinach had already written and performed "Way Maker" before Michael Oluwole became involved.
One example cited was that she had performed the song in South Africa before he worked on it.
Michael Oluwole was later hired to mix and master the song for its commercial album release in 2015.
He was paid for that technical work under an oral agreement.
The judge explained an important principle of copyright law:
The author of a song is the person who creates its original creative elements—such as the lyrics, melody, harmony, or arrangement.
Someone who only provides technical services (like mixing, mastering, or engineering) does not automatically become a co-author unless they contribute original creative expression to the composition.
The court also noted that the plaintiff's own testimony supported Sinach's case—he admitted that she brought him an already existing song, which he helped prepare for release.
As a result:
The court ruled that Sinach is the sole author and owner of "Way Maker."
The plaintiff's claims were dismissed in their entirety.
The judge reportedly described the lawsuit as "gold-digging and unmeritorious."