Ini Edo loses ‘Shanty town’ ownership legal battle to Chinenye Nworah

In a significant legal development in the Nigerian entertainment industry, Nollywood actress Ini Edo has lost the ownership rights to the hit Netflix series “Shanty Town” to filmmaker Chinenye Nworah. The series, which became a sensation upon its release, was at the center of a heated legal battle between Ini Edo and Nworah.

The dispute began in January 2024, when Ini Edo and her production company, Minini Empire Productions Limited (MEP), filed a double intellectual property petition against Chinenye Nworah and her production company, Giant Creative Media Limited (GCM). The petition sought to claim ownership of the trademarks and copyrights associated with the popular series “Shanty Town.”

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However, in a landmark decision, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Trademark Registry ruled in favor of Nworah and GCM, dismissing the claims made by Ini Edo and MEP as “frivolous and without substance.” This ruling effectively granted Nworah and her production company the ownership rights to “Shanty Town.”

In a separate decision, the NCC also upheld the validity of the copyright certificates issued to Nworah for the literary and audiovisual works related to “Shanty Town.” The certificates, LW10177 for the literary work and CF1448 for the audiovisual work, were confirmed as legally valid, further solidifying Nworah’s ownership of the series.

Reacting to the victory, Nworah’s lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), emphasized the significance of the ruling. “The successful defense of these claims highlights the importance of protecting creative works and ensuring fair compensation for artists,” Agbakoba stated.

Directed by Dimeji Ajibola, “Shanty Town” follows the story of a group of young women who are coerced into becoming sex workers by powerful men. The six-part crime thriller, released on January 20, 2023, garnered widespread acclaim and featured a star-studded cast, including Chidi Mokeme, Ini Edo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe Etim, Sola Sobowale, Nancy Isime, Shaffy Bello, and Mercy Eke.

This ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to protect intellectual property rights within Nigeria’s burgeoning film industry, ensuring that creators like Chinenye Nworah receive proper recognition and ownership of their work.