Nollywood actress and filmmaker Bimbo Ademoye has offered a N1 million reward for information leading to the whereabouts of a man she accused of claiming copyright to the soundtrack of her film, ‘My 30th Wedding’.

The actress made the offer in a now-deleted social media post. She accused a man identified as Enemuo of using a copyright claim to divert earnings from the film’s soundtrack.

Ademoye said former Nigerian Idol winner Progress created the song for her and that she owns its rights. She also urged fans to report the man’s accounts across social media platforms.

“I’m sick and tired of this. I have 1 million naira for anyone who can locate this person for me. I will not rest until I catch this one. A movie I spent my blood on. You’re claiming copyright for a song that was done for me by Progress that I fully own. I’m tired of this. This is sickening. How do you sit down and try to claim someone’s sweat, so all the money would go to you and you too you’d take it,” she wrote.

The actress alleged that Enemuo uploaded the song three weeks before claiming ownership. She described the move as a deliberate attempt to target her work.

“Guys pls help me report this person on all platforms; he or she uploaded it 3 weeks ago, clearly targeted me and is now claiming ownership. @youtube @youtubeafrica pls do better, this is getting tiring. Anyone that can send me the location of this person gets 1m from me. Let’s all be mad together.”

Bimbo Ademoye regains film’s monetisation rights.

In a later post, Ademoye announced that YouTube had restored the film’s monetisation rights. She thanked those who helped resolve the dispute.

The actress credited her mother, Uduak Isong, comedian Sir Fela and Progress for their swift intervention.

“We’re back in, guys. God is good. Thank you, Jesus. Our monetisation is back on. Thank you, Jesus, for not letting my hard work go in vain. Thank you to my mommy @uduakisong1 for getting on it immediately, @sir.fela I can’t thank you enough for all you do @progressofficial_ thank you for taking swift action my gee, God bless you,” she wrote.

However, the restored monetisation did not end the dispute. Ademoye said the alleged culprit was around Colchester or the University of Essex in the United Kingdom.

She also maintained that her N1 million reward remained open to anyone who could help locate him physically.

Enemuo apologises over copyright claim.

Enemuo later issued an apology after Ademoye shared a screenshot of his response.

He said he uploaded the soundtrack to help promote it to a wider audience. He denied any intention to infringe on the actress’s rights or disrupt her earnings.

“My intention in uploading the song was to help share and promote the beautiful sound with a wider audience, not to infringe on your rights or cause you any distress. The upload was never meant to trigger a Content ID claim for the sound, but to share the soundtrack with a wider audience.

“Unfortunately, the distribution platform has laid a YouTube Content ID claim on the content. I take full responsibility for the situation and have since taken down the song from all streaming platforms. Within the next 24-48 hours, it will go away from every streaming platform, and no further issue will arise from you monetising your content.

“I am also going ahead to engage with the distributor to ensure no trace of the sound content ID is left behind. I genuinely apologise for any inconvenience or discomfort this may have caused you.”

He added that he had taken down the song from streaming platforms. He also promised to contact the distributor to remove the Content ID claim.

Actress rejects apology, vows to pursue matter.

Ademoye rejected the apology and questioned Enemuo’s claim that he wanted to promote her work.

She argued that his 250 subscribers could not help her reach a wider audience when her own channel had almost two million subscribers.

The actress also questioned why he chose a song she had not properly copyrighted instead of another soundtrack that had gained more popularity.

“Mr Enemuo, while I see your apology, I call it complete bullshit! I took multiple breaths, and I’ve counted 1-10 multiple times to ensure I calm down and not say anything out of pocket, but guess what, I’m still very angry! You claimed you wanted to help me reach a wider audience. I’m not sure you thought that statement through; you wanted to use your 250 subscribers to help me reach a wider audience with my almost 2 million subscribers? You specifically took the song I didn’t properly copyright from all the songs in the movie; why didn’t you take Hammerboi’s song? If anything, that’s the viral one I’d have loved to go even more viral song, let me guess, because you know say Edo boy go show you sege abi,” she wrote.

Ademoye also accused Enemuo of trying to claim the film’s earnings after the copyright dispute affected its monetisation.

“OK, after you “helped me reach a wider audience why did you try to claim my earnings? Why did you monetise it and have me demonitized? I have so many questions, but I won’t waste my time asking you. If I don’t pick you up from Essex, I’d pick you up before your homecoming (I’m sure you know what I’m talking about). But I’d make an example out of you. Don’t ever take my silence for weakness; believe me when I tell you I’m not nice at all, especially when it comes to my work. I’m on you, son! It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.”

The actress also shared screenshots of apologies from people whose channels she said she had reported for copyright infringement.

She used the screenshots to respond to critics who accused her of seeking publicity or failing to protect her work.

‘My 30th Wedding’, released on October 1, has garnered 29 million views on YouTube.

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