Mr. Olubakin (ESQ.) Sues NBA For 500 Million Naira Damages, Claims NBA Stole Intellectual Property, NBA Already Presented Portrait to President Buhari
by ahjotnaija
The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Gifted President Muhammadu Buhari a Stolen Portrait of the President. Owner of Intellectual Property, Mr. Olubakin (ESQ) Sues for Immediate Return of Stolen Portrait and 500 million Damages
Facilitated by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), President Muhammadu Buhari received an artwork, a portrait painting of the president. The portrait, painted by Mr. Olubakin Oladele, also a lawyer and a member of the association, who has since requested that the painting be returned back with immediate effect, was declared missing by NBA, only to ahve it presented to the President with fanfare. In addition to wanting the portrait returned, he is suing for damages to the tune of over 500 million Naira.
NBA Presenting the Stolen Portrait to President Buhari. Vice President Osinbajo was present too, a Law Professor and Former Minsiter of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)
Mr. Olubakin, a God-fearing pastor, lawyer and respected member of the esteemed association, who also happens to be an artist, painted the non-commissioned portrait of the president. He took the finished work to the association and requested that same be presented to President Buhari on the condition that he was there for due recognition. The association took possession of the painting, noting the request of Mr. Olubakin. He went back to get a response, but was told that the painting could not be found due to many reasons. Moreso, even if it were found, it could not be presented to the president. Unhappy about the development, which Mr. Olubakin duly communicated tot he association, the association promised to locate the painting and return same to him. Mr. Olubakin was sure to leave a message with the secretariat of the association. He wanted his portrait returned as soon as the association found it.
Court Order Requesting the NBA to Return the Portrait and Suing for Damages
This request was unfortunately bluntly ignored. To his greatest shock and surprise, Mr. Olubakin only found out that the missing portrait had been found when it was presented to Mr. President by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) with accompanying fanfare. Not a single word was said about the source of the portrait, no recognition whatsoever. In fact, the recognition would not have been necessary because Mr. Olubakin had requested that the painting be returned to him once found. It was not to be presented to the president anymore.
Recovering from the shock, the rightful owner of this work of art, being Mr. Olubakin, went to the secretariat of NBA to understand what had just went down, what exactly happened, who found the portrait, where was it found, why was it not returned, why was he not informed. So many legitimate questions, yet the NBA ignored all questions and request to have the portrait returned. Request for amicable settlement was ignored. All attempt fell on deaf ears.
Mr. Olubakin, Lawyer, God-fearing pastor, standing beside his intellectual property before it went missing.
The association, being the highest body representing lawyers’ interest in Nigeria, understands too well the implication of its action, no doubt. It begs understanding though, why the association, aware that an intellectual property remains the property of the creator except otherwise agreed, ignored the request of Mr. Olubakin, the rightful owner of the portrait, to have it returned.
Since the NBA is unwilling to settle the matter amicably, Mr. Olubakin has decided to have the case resolved in a court of law. He is suing for damages of over 500 million Naira as shown by documents made available to AhjotNaijaBlog.
ajagunna 