Prominent Nigerian entertainment and intellectual property lawyer, Rockson Akpotiri Igelige, has died at the age of 55.
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Igelige reportedly slumped and died at his residence in Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Friday morning.
The immediate cause of his death had not been officially disclosed or independently confirmed at the time of filing this report.
Born on June 1, 1971, Igelige was a lawyer, former politician, intellectual property advocate and founder of the Friends of the Creator (Artistic) Foundation, an organisation established to promote and protect the rights of artists and other professionals in Nigeria’s creative industry.
A native of Oleh Kingdom, Igelige attended Odoro Primary School and Emore Grammar School, Oleh, before proceeding to the University of Benin, where he studied Theatre Arts between 1992 and 1996.
He later studied Law at the Oleh Campus of Delta State University before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School in Lagos for his professional legal training.
His academic pursuit in intellectual property and entertainment law subsequently took him to the United Kingdom, where he obtained a Master of Laws degree in Entertainment Law from the University of Westminster, London.
His master’s research focused on the legal frameworks governing film piracy in Britain and Nigeria, an area that would later form a significant part of his professional advocacy.
Before becoming a lawyer, Igelige participated in the National Youth Service Corps programme in Geidam, Yobe State.
During his service year, he was involved in community development and educational awareness projects and reportedly received an NYSC Yobe State Award as well as a Yobe State News Award in recognition of his activities.
Igelige also had a stint in politics following Nigeria’s return to democratic government in 1999.
He was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party as councillor representing Oleh Ward 1 in Isoko South Local Government Area.
He initially served as Supervisory Councillor for Health before becoming Speaker and Leader of the local government legislative house, a position he reportedly held until 2012.
After his political involvement, Igelige increasingly established himself in legal practice, particularly in entertainment, copyright, sports, media and intellectual property law.
He represented and advised musicians, record labels, producers, artists and other creative professionals in disputes involving ownership, copyright exploitation and the commercial use of creative works.
Among the high-profile copyright disputes associated with his practice was a case involving musician Omenuwoma Dovie, popularly known as Baba 2010, and telecommunications company MTN Nigeria over the alleged use of the artiste’s musical works.
The dispute involved proceedings before the Federal High Court and the Nigerian Copyright Commission before it was eventually resolved out of court.
Igelige was also involved in several other copyright-related matters and became an outspoken advocate for stronger protection of intellectual property rights and better awareness among Nigerian creators of the legal and commercial value of their works.
In 2017, he founded the Friends of the Creator (Artistic) Foundation in Oleh.
The organisation was established to promote intellectual property education, advocacy and research and to provide support for artists and other creators seeking to protect and commercially exploit their intellectual property rights.
His work in entertainment and intellectual property law earned him professional recognition, including the Entertainment Lawyer of the Year Award in 2019.
The Nigerian Bar Association, Oleh Branch, publicly congratulated him following the recognition.
His advocacy also attracted international attention, with the World Intellectual Property Organization listing him in connection with the activities of the Friends of the Creator Foundation.
In 2021, the Nigerian Bar Association appointed Igelige as a member of its Future of Legal Practice Committee, further reflecting his involvement in discussions surrounding the development and changing nature of legal practice in Nigeria.
Beyond courtroom and advisory work, Igelige wrote and spoke extensively on emerging developments in entertainment, media and copyright law.
In a 2019 article, he examined the copyright controversy surrounding the removal of Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage’s One music video from YouTube following a copyright complaint, analysing the legal issues arising from the dispute.
At the time of his death, Igelige was the Principal Partner of Rockson Legal, with its main office on Odoro Road in Oleh, Delta State.
His law firm described him as an award-winning entertainment, sports and media lawyer whose practice included representing artists, record labels, producers and other creative professionals in litigation and arbitration.
His professional journey cut across theatre, community development, politics, legal practice, entertainment law and intellectual property advocacy, making him a prominent figure within both the legal and creative communities and in his native Isoko area of Delta State.
His death is expected to be felt among colleagues in the legal profession, artists and other creative professionals whose intellectual property rights he spent years advocating for, as well as members of the Oleh community where he maintained his legal practice and other activities.
Further details surrounding the circumstances of his death and funeral arrangements were being awaited from his family and professional colleagues.
Igelige is survived by his wife and children.
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