The popular comedian, Chukwuemeka Emmanuel commonly known as Oga Sabinus has charged Friesland Foods Wamco Nigeria plc, makers of peak milk with N1 billion suit and UAC foods, makers of Gala with N100 m suit over intellectual property theft. Sabinus addressing the companies through his lawyer Stanley Alieke stated that the phrase “something hooge” was his registered trademark therefore, he demanded compensation and damages.
In one of the letters dated May 27, it stated “Our client briefed us and we believe the same to be true that your company, Friesland Foods Wamco Nigeria plc, used a trademark slogan “something hooge” which belongs Sabinus for the promotion of your peak milk product.
The advert which was used to promote the peak National breakfast week was posted on 24th May 2022 on the peak milk Nigeria verified Instagram page: peak_milk.
‘Something hooge’ a phrase which was popularised by our clients has been trademarked and legally reserved as his intellectual property by the Federal Ministry of Trade and investment. The said slogan was trademarked on 26th Nov 2021 with the file number: NG/TM/O/2021/48316.10
With this, we demand the payment of the sum of Five hundred million naira (N500m) as compensation for the unauthorized usage of the intellectual property which belongs to our clients.
He also sued UAC foods makers of Gala with N100m for using his cartoon-like image without his permission.
In the letter addressed to UAC foods, it stated “Your company UAC food Ltd has been using the brand picture and other intellectual properties of Sabinus to make adverts of your Gala sausage roll without the consent or authorisation of our client”
“You made a post on your verified Instagram handle (gala sausage roll) on the 23rd of May 2022 with the picture of our client. The post which was a cartoon of our client was captioned “the way I calculate everything in my life”
“We demand that you pay our client the sun of one hundred million naira (N100m) for the use of the picture which is the average fee our client charges for his picture to be used for adverts and promotions”.