The Federal High Court has dismissed the criminal allegation over the alleged secret sale of Burna Boy’s early catalogue, criticising the police for what it described as a lackluster approach to the prosecution of one of Africa’s most watched music rights cases.

This action, Commissioner of Police v. Aristokrat Records Nigeria Limited & Anor (Charge No. FHC/L/1087/2025) came up today before Justice Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, for the arraignment of the defendant.

The prosecuting attorney was not there as he was engaged in another matter at the Court of Appeal in Jos. Aristokrat Records and its counsel were also not present when the hearings commenced.

“Application was made for leave to address the court in the absence of the prosecuting counsel. The judge said he was not inclined to grant it, noting that the prosecution’s office should have assigned another lawyer to take care of the day’s business instead of leaving it unattended, the report said.

The court then went on to voice its frank disapproval at the way in which the prosecution had handled the case. It was pointed out that the police had been represented by two separate lawyers at different times, yet the prosecution failed to serve the charge on the defendant.

The defendant had previously failed to appear at prior court sessions, prompting the judge to issue an order of substituted service provided particularly to make that feasible. The court dismissed the charge for lack of diligent prosecution, finding no adequate justification for a failure to comply with that order or for the failure to bring the matter toward arraignment.

It’s a remarkable twist in a case that, thus far, has lacked one. The defence had failed to attend earlier sittings with the court being told at different times that the defendant had not been served or that service affidavits were filed late, as reported in the build up to the hearing. This time, the criminal procedures collapsed over shortcomings on the part of the prosecution.

How Burna Boy’s catalogue went to court

The accusation was on the criminal fringe of a larger battle over ownership of the recordings that started Burna Boy’s success. At the centre is 960 Music Group which owns 40% of Aristokrat Records, the label that signed Burna Boy in 2011.

Piriye Isokrari, the founder of Aristokrat, sold the early library to Burna Boy’s label, Spaceship Music, in 2024 without the knowledge or approval of its biggest shareholder, according to 960 Music Group.

The discography includes L.I.F.E (2013) and Redemption (2016), as well as the early tracks that established Burna Boy’s Afro-fusion sound.

960 Music has stated that the revenues of the multimillion-dollar sale never reached the company, resulting in a legal suit and the now-struck-out criminal allegation for alleged fraudulent conversion.