A Lagos Federal High Court  presided over by Justice  Charles Archibong, has  granted Musical Copyright Society Nigeria, MCSN, the absolute order of Garnishee against all banks holding any money for the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, in execution of N40 million  judgment, secured earlier against NCC .

Before the order nisi  earlier secured by  MCSN was made absolute, the Court lined up all  the 19 banks  served with the order  to disclose  how much each of them was holding on behalf of the NCC.

Though none of the banks was found to be holding substantial funds for  the NCC to pay for the full judgment sum  of N40million, MCSN will never the less be going home with a symbolic  amount to demonstrate that the judgment it got against the NCC over the issue of collecting society was no fluke.

While banks without NCC’s accounts were discharged from the proceedings, not less than  N4 million is expected to be paid to MCSN in the next few days by the affected banks and before the next adjourned date, July 20,  when the banks are to report back to the court.

MCSN’s lawyer, Mr Olumide Ekisola, who spoke on the court order, said, “We are pleased with the outcome of the  hearing  as half bread is better none. My clients have suffered persecution by  NCC but we thank God for the  judiciary, which remains the last hope of the common man and the oppressed.”

Director General of MCSN, Mr Mayo Ayilaran, on his part said, “More than the money involved, the symbolic nature of the action in its entirety underscores the fact  that no matter how long, evil can  not  over ride good and darkness cannot overcome light. It’s  unfortunate that a body established to protect Copyright owners has turned around to hound the same copyright owners for which it was established. It’s like a policeman turning around to rob and kill the same people he is to protect.”

It will be recalled that the Federal High Court, Lagos had July 25, 2011, entered judgment against NCC  in favour of MCSN in which the court ordered the NCC to pay damages of N40 million to MCSN for interfering in its business and unlawful arrest and detention of its staffs.