960 Music Seeks to Nullify Sale of Burna Boy’s Early Catalogue

• Minority shareholder 960 Music Group sues to overturn multi-million-dollar sale.
• Sale transferred Burna Boy’s early works from Aristokrat Music to Spaceship Music.
• 960 Music claims it was excluded from the transaction, and board approval was bypassed.
• Criminal investigation underway against Aristokrat CEO for alleged fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.

A legal battle has erupted over the ownership of Grammy-winning Afro-fusion star Burna Boy’s early musical works, following a multi-million-dollar transaction between his former label, Aristokrat Music, and his current company, Spaceship Music.

960 Music Group, a minority shareholder holding 40% equity in Aristokrat Music, has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt seeking to nullify the sale. The company claims it was completely sidelined in the deal and that the required board approval was bypassed.

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The sale, completed in May/June 2024, transferred intellectual property and master recordings from Burna Boy’s formative years to Spaceship Music, a company owned by the artiste and his mother-manager, Bose Ogulu. According to court filings, 960 Music described the catalogue as Aristokrat’s “crown jewel asset,” asserting that the transaction undermined the interests of minority shareholders.

Allegations of Fraud and Corporate Mismanagement

Beyond the civil dispute, the case has attracted criminal scrutiny. The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) has filed charges against Aristokrat Music CEO Piriye Isokrari, alleging fraudulent conversion of proceeds from the sale. Investigators claim the funds were either diverted for personal use or funneled outside company accounts.

Isokrari is also facing accusations of breaching his fiduciary duty by bypassing corporate governance protocols to negotiate a private deal with Spaceship Music. 960 Music contends that this action violated shareholder rights and corporate law, placing the ownership of Burna Boy’s early catalogue in legal limbo.

The civil and criminal dimensions of the case mean that a ruling in favor of 960 Music could compel Spaceship Music to relinquish control over the master recordings of Burna Boy’s foundational works. Until the courts reach a verdict, the future of the early catalogue, including some of the artist’s hit songs, remains uncertain.

This dispute highlights growing tensions in the Nigerian music industry around intellectual property, minority shareholder rights, and corporate governance. As one of the country’s most valuable music catalogues, Burna Boy’s early works have significant commercial and cultural value, intensifying the stakes for all parties involved.

Observers note that the outcome could set a precedent for how minority shareholders can challenge major transactions and protect their interests in Nigeria’s entertainment sector.