Blackface Clarifies Apology To 2Baba, Insists The Legend ‘Sang My Song’ 

Veteran Nigerian dancehall and reggae singer, Blackface, real name Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo, has explained why he apologized to his former band mate, Innocent Idibia popularly known as 2Baba, after the latter slammed a N50 million defamation suit against him.

2Baba had sued Blackface over his incessant attacks and allegations of intellectual property theft against him.

In his previous radio and TV interviews, Blackface had accused his former Plantashun Boiz band mate of singing his songs ‘African Queen’ and ‘Let Somebody Love You’ without permission and due credit.

But the duo was said to have reached an agreement to settle out of court on Thursday after Blackface wrote an apology to 2Baba, in which he revoked all his allegations of song theft and promised not to further make such claims.

His apology, as reported, read: “Having consulted with my Solicitors, I do hereby revoke all allegations of intellectual property theft and career sabotage previously made against Mr. Innocent Idibia and Mr. Efe Omorogbe.

“These statements were erroneously made under misapprehension as to their accuracy, due to prevailing circumstances at the time. I have been advised on the inaccuracy of my previous allegations and retract them entirely.

“I undertake to refrain from making any such subsequent statements against the persons of Mr. Innocent Idibia and Mr. Efe Omorogbe in future.”

 ‘They Sang My Song’  

But speaking in a social media post on Thursday, Blackface explained that his decision to apologise to 2Baba did not mean that his songs were not used by the singer without permission.

He said, “I am a human being and a Nigerian who fights for his rights. The problem with many of us is that we are afraid to speak up for what is right or defend the truth when we know it. No be say i too talk my people but I’m just trying to inspire somebody or ‘trying to make common sense’ like Mr Ben Bruce would say

“My people “Don’t sleep on your rights” and users of peoples works make sure the writers/contributors are credited properly. When you speak out, things happen and that’s why I said I will be done with this issues this year 2019 and behold here we are… I can say that the 50 Million defamation suit filed against me by Mr Innocent Idibia aka 2face and his manager Mr Efe Omorogbe has been settled out of court as they both have withdrawn their case filed against me.

“It’s true that they sang my song without permission and truly it pissed me off, but that doesn’t legally make them thieves as the lawyers made me to understand.

“Sometimes the words we use matter, that’s why I apologised for using that word when my lawyers advised me…Finally they admitted they made mistakes with my songwriters and publishers rights which they should have informed me before but they never did ,they have promised to rectify them so we wait and I hope they honour this this time and furnish me details to that effect,” he said.