D’banj, Kelly Hansome settle rift out of court

Kelly Handsome and DBanj

BARRING any unforeseen circumstance, the alleged copyright infringement case Afro hip hop superstar, D’banj was planning to institute against fellow artiste, Kelechi Obinna Orji aka Kelly Hansome, may have been settled out of the court room.

The star’s media company, Media Image Managers that broke the news of the now settled rift last week, in another statement, confirmed the latest development.

Mo’ Hits (D’banj’s record company) had alleged that the D’banj’s song, I’m Feeling Good, was leaked in the process of recording and it finally found its way into Kelly Hansome’s hands that quickly did a ‘remix’.

The statement reads thus: “Do take notice that Mo’Hits Records Limited is the lawful owner of rights to the recorded material (I’m Feeling Good) being touted by one Kelechi Obinna Orji a.k.a. Kelly Hansome or persons acting for him.

Mo’Hits Records Limited has not granted the said rights to Mr. Hansome or to anyone else. Mr. Hansome’s possession and offering of the material at issue is unauthorized, unjustified, inexcusable and downright illegal; the subject of current civil and criminal proceedings.”

Mo’ Hits had advised everyone not to “publish, offer, play, copy, post or howsoever treat with the said material if or when it is offered to you.”

But on Monday October 24, the matter was resolved at the Garki Police Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja when Kelly Hansome was brought in and taken into custody. He was granted bail to the sum of eight hundred thousand naira (N800, 000.00) He admitted among other things to wilful infringement of the intellectual property rights (copyright) of Mo’Hits Records Limited.

He consequently signed an undertaking and apology to Mo’Hits Records at about 4p.m. in the presence of several police officers including Chief Superintendent Victor Erivwode, (the Divisional Police Officer). Kelly Hansome undertook to refrain from further use of Mo’Hits Records Limited’s material, released or unreleased, and offered profuse apologies to Mo’Hits Records Limited. He also appeared to be convincingly remorseful to everyone at the Station.

Mo’ Hits and Kelly Hansome’s lawyers as well as D’banj’s trusted adviser, Seun Abisagbola aka Bankuli, were present at the Police Station.