“Ope Banwo‘s Shadowy Past: Dual Legal Battles and Artist Uproar Resurrected”—In a resurgence of controversies surrounding Ope Banwo, founder of Stingomania Records, revelations about his shadowy past have come to the forefront, casting a long-lasting stain on his reputation.
The negative spotlight has recently intensified with not only the resurfacing of legal troubles involving the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) but also the revival of artist disputes with Baba Nee and Trybson Dudukoko.
The legal wrangling with COSON dates back to 2017 when lawyers, acting on behalf of Chief Tony Okoroji, COSON’s Chairman, demanded a retraction and apology from Banwo for statements made in a widely circulated Facebook post. The post questioned Chief Okoroji’s management of N300,000,000 in copyright royalties, with the legal team accusing Banwo of making false, baseless, and malicious statements. Demands for a public retraction, an unreserved apology, and a significant payment in damages were made, opening a chapter of legal woes that continues to haunt Banwo.
Simultaneously, the artist dispute with Baba Nee and Trybson Dudukoko unfolded, where the artists accused Banwo of contractual breaches and exploitation. Banwo’s attempt to publicly shame the artists for allegedly spurning contractual obligations led to a public back-and-forth, exposing the darker side of artist-label relationships within Stingomania Records.
These dual controversies bring to light Ope Banwo’s questionable business practices and management style, painting a picture of an industry figure willing to air dirty laundry on social media while facing legal consequences for his words. As both disputes resurface, Banwo finds himself in a precarious position, with his dirty past casting a long shadow over his once-celebrated career in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
