Ini Edo Loses Ownership Claim of Netflix Series “Shanty Town” to Chinenye Nworah

Nollywood actress Ini Edo has lost her legal battle for ownership rights of the hit Netflix series “Shanty Town” to filmmaker Chinenye Nworah.

In January 2024, Ini Edo and her company, Minini Empire Productions Limited (MEP), filed a legal challenge seeking to claim ownership over the trademarks and copyrights of the popular series.

They pursued a double intellectual property petition against Nworah and GCM.

However, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Trademark Registry ruled against Edo.

The petition was dismissed as frivolous and lacking merit. Additionally, the NCC rejected Edo and MEP’s request to annul two copyright certificates awarded to Nworah—one for the literary work and another for the audiovisual work.

Nworah’s lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, commented on the ruling, saying, “The successful defense of these claims underscores the importance of protecting creative works and ensuring fair compensation for artists.”