Veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has threatened to sue Premier Records Limited over alleged violation of terms of agreement in musical contracts signed about 35 years ago.
He disclosed this in a letter written to the record label by his lawyer, Rockson Igelige, on Wednesday.
In the letter dated June 19, 2023, the lawyer said Charly Boy had signed Artists Recording Contracts with the company in 1988, 1990 and also recently.
He, however, alleged that the contracts had since expired, but Premier Records was still breaching his clientβs copyrights.
βOn our clientβs instructions, we demand that your company handover our clientβs master tapes, artworks, promo collateral for the music and other relevant and confidential information with your company within 30 days of the date of this letter. We also demand your companyβs payment of our clientβs outstanding royalties,β the letter stated.
According to Mr Igelige, the albums affected included the one recorded in 1990 containing songs such as βBig Bottomβ, βAidsβ, βSexy Ladyβ, βMamaβ, and βNwata Missβ.
He also listed an album titled βU-Turnβ with songs like βAkulaβ, βSheriβ, βComfortβ, βCivilian Barrackβ, βAkulaβ (instrumental).
Also in the list is an album titled βRealityβ, containing songs like βMonkeyβ, βFamily Supportβ, βNo.6 Manβ, βGive Mv Lifeβ, βLagos Lifeβ and βBaby Come Backβ.
He contended that the terms of the contracts entered with the company as Polydor Record in 1988, Polygram Records Limited in 1990, and currently Premier Records Limited had ended by expiration of time.
βIn this wise, we have our clientβs instructions to formally inform your company to stop further breach of our clientβs copyrights to the musical works under the musical albums and single(s) produced during the aforesaid expired contract period,β Charly Boyβs lawyer explained.
βThis is as a result of the fact that the condition precedent as well as the consideration for the contracts were not met and furnished.βCharly Boyβs lawyer warned that this βserves as a legal notice that further breach after the receipt of this letter will attract legal action.β
The letter added, βWe hope and trust that your company will comply with our clientβs modest demands.β