By our reporter| The Performing Musician Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has expressed satisfaction with the decision of the High Court in Kano (appeal division) to set aside the death sentence against musician Yahaya Sharif-Aminu by the state Sharia Court last year.
In a statement signed by its president Pretty Okafor, PMAN thanked the Justices’ of the Appeal Court lead by the Presiding judge Justice Nuradeen Sagir and his co-panelist Justice Nasiru Saminu who examined the case through the legal binoculars of the Law and arrived at the inevitable conclusion that the trial of the Lower Court was full of irregularities.
The statement by PMAN is published below…
“TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER”
It was double jubilation at PMAN Headquarters as we welcome the News of the Appeal Court decision to set aside the Death Sentence passed against Yahaya Sharif-Aminu.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank God for His grace upon the Life of Yahaya and for giving him a chance to Life.
We thank the Justices’ of the Appeal Court lead by the Presiding judge Justice Nuradeen Sagir and his co-panelist Justice Nasiru Saminu who examined the case through the legal binoculars of the Law and arrived at the inevitable conclusion that the trial of the Lower Court was full of irregularities.
We also want to thank our Musicians in Nigeria and Leaders of the Music and Entertainment Industry (The Nigeria Music Industry Collective) who stood behind the campaign calling for Sharif to be set free as it could have been any one on that death roll as we now leave in a world full of uncertainties.
We commend our International partners, who rose to the occasion immediately, the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), European Music Council (EMC), Finnish Music Council, Finnish Musicians Union (SML), Freemuse, International Federation of Actors (FIA), International Music Council (IMC), Nordic Musicians Union (NMU), Artists at Risk/Perpetuum Mobile, Safemuse, just to mention a few.
I want to thank the General Secretary of FIM Benoït Machuel who has been in constant touch with me and following up on the developments every step of the way.
We thank the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN) for its role regarding the administration of Intellectual Property Rights in the Country and once again Congratulate MCSN on the Renewal of its Approval to continue to operate as a CMO by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) lead by the Director General, Mr. John O. Asein and his Team who shall also see to the enforcement of the rights of creators in line with the Copyright Act.
We are confident that the business side of our profession would start to receive a boost in terms of royalty income and alleviate the sufferings of our colleagues who die daily from poverty and inadequate medical attention.
As stated in my New Year message to ALL Musicians, PMAN is well positioned now more than ever to bring about the much needed changes to give us a better Life in 2021 as we call upon everyone (Musicians, Corporate bodies, Government Ministries, and Agencies), who have the
interest of Musicians at heart to join hands with us to make it come to fruition.
Music and Movies played a vital role in keeping us entertained during the Lock Down, as occasioned by the COVID-19 Pandemic and we believe these practitioners who worked tirelessly even from their homes to put smiles on our faces and kept us sane deserves much better.
It is very clear that we as Musicians are ONE all over the WORLD and we stand in solidarity TOGETHER wherever and whenever as we are
*STRONGER TOGETHER* with *ONE VOICE* as MUSIC is our own RELIGION.
Pretty Okafor
National President.
Leave a Reply