Award-winning Nigerian skitmaker, Chukwuemeka Emmanuel, also known as Oga Sabinus, has sued two giant manufacturers in the country, Friesland Foods Wamco Nigeria Plc, makers of the popular Peak Milk brand, and UAC Foods, makers of everyday sausage, Gala, over alleged theft of his intellectual property.
Oga Sabinus is seeking damages to the tune of N1billion and N100 million respectively from the two companies for the illegal use of his property.
The comedian, through his lawyer, Stanley Alieke, noted the illegal use of a phrase, “something hooge” which he said is unique to him and his registered trademark and therefore, demanded compensation and damages.
In a letter dated May 27 and addressed to the two companies, Oga Sabinus said the use of the slogan by the companies was an infringement on his legal rights and as such, must pay the huge damages.
“Our client briefed us and we believe the same to be true that your company, Friesland Foods Wamco Nigeria Plc, used a trademarked slogan ‘Something Hooge’ for the promotion of your Peak Milk product,” the letter reads.
“The advert which was made on the Peak Milk Nigeria verified Instagram page (peak_milk) was posted on the 24th day of May 2022, which was used to promote the Peak National Breakfast Week.
“It will interest you to know that the phrase ‘something hooge’, which was popularised by our client, has been trademarked and legally reserved as his intellectual property by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.
“The said slogan was trademarked on the 26th of November 2021 with the file number: NG/TM/O/2021/48316. 10. On this note, we make the demand for the payment of the sum of Five Hundred million Naira (N500m) as compensation for the unauthorized use of the intellectual property belonging to our client.
“And another Five Hundred million Naira (N500m) for damages for the trauma; emotional, physical, psychological, and mental trauma our client has suffered for the Trademark theft and infringement of his intellectual property rights.”
In a similar letter to UAC Foods, the comedian said he has been traumatized with the company’s use of his ‘cartoon-like’ image in their adverts without his permission.
“Your company UAC Food Ltd. has been using the brand picture and other intellectual properties of Sabinus to make adverts for your Gala sausage roll without the consent or authorization of our clients,” the UAC letter said.
“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 sum 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.”