960 Music Group, which reportedly owns a 40% stake in Aristokrat Records, has launched a lawsuit seeking to nullify the 2024 sale of Burna Boy’s back catalogue. The legal action alleges fraud and the absence of required shareholder approval by Aristokrat founder Piriye Isokrari.
The case, now before Federal High Courts in Lagos and Port Harcourt, could see the catalogue returned to 960 Music if the court rules in its favour, amid an ongoing criminal probe by Nigeria’s Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID). Music journalist Joey Akan confirmed that the dispute is strictly between Aristokrat and 960, noting that Burna Boy had repurchased the masters cleanly.
The conflict centers on Aristokrat Music’s 2024 sale of Burna Boy’s historical intellectual property and master recordings to his current label, Spaceship Music, run by Burna Boy and his mother, Bose Ogulu. 960 Music contends that the sale was illegal, arguing that as major shareholders, they were not consulted or given approval rights for the transaction.
The FCID has filed charges against Aristokrat founder Piriye Isokrari following an investigation into alleged financial misconduct and fraud. Isokrari faces accusations of diverting proceeds from the multi-million-dollar deal for personal use and breaching his fiduciary duty to shareholders.
An executive at 960 Music told thewatch.ng, “You cannot sell 100% of an asset when you only have the authority to manage the company, not bypass the owners of 40% of its soul. This was a coordinated effort to move the IP under the radar, and we are asking the court to bring those assets back.”
The dispute could create significant legal implications for Burna Boy, a 2021 Grammy Award winner for Best Global Music Album. Should 960 Music prevail, Spaceship Music may be required to return ownership of breakout hits such as Like to Party and Tonight to the original partners at 960 Music.
This high-profile case has drawn industry attention, highlighting ongoing challenges around intellectual property rights, label ownership, and corporate governance in Nigeria’s music scene. Don’t Miss: FG Orders NAFDAC to Suspend Enforcement of Sachet Alcohol Ban
