Mavin Records, DMW, others Block MCSN From Collecting Copyright Levy Funds

Eleven leading record labels, including Mavin Records, DMW (Davido Music Worldwide) and Chocolate City Music, have obtained an interim court order freezing copyright levy funds tied to the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN).

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, granted a Mareva injunction restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and at least 20 commercial banks from releasing or disbursing any copyright levy funds payable to MCSN pending further hearing.

The ex parte application was filed on behalf of the labels by the Record Label Proprietors’ Initiative, which argued that royalties from sound recordings subject to the levy belong to labels that opted out of collective management by MCSN.

Under the order, MCSN is barred from accessing, withdrawing or dealing with any of the disputed funds, whether already received or yet to be disbursed until the final determination of the case, now adjourned to March 12, 2026.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa also directed the CBN and affected banks to preserve all sums standing to MCSN’s credit and file affidavits of compliance within three days.