The death of entertainment lawyer, Efere Ozako, digs a hole in a critical aspect of the sector, AKEEM LASISI writes.
Compared to what obtains in other
sectors, entertainment lawyers are not very many in Nigeria. Many people
do not consider the area structured and rewarding enough; hence, they
would rather be maritime or property lawyers. When key players in the
Nigerian entertainment industry now come across a lawyer having more
than a passing interest in their sector, they tend to relate with him or
her as one of their own who cares to take a road less traveled.
Unfortunately, less than a week after
veteran actor, the late Justus Esiri, was laid to rest, death has
snatched one of such lawyers. Efere Ozako, popularly known for the
slogan – Wetin Lawyers Dey Do? slogan, is reported to have died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday.
With the passage, death has thus dug a
painful hole in the heart of the entertainment scene, especially at a
time when intellectual property is crying loud for a professional and
passionate intervention.
Incidentally, the manner of the passage
of Ozako, who was an expert in copyright issues, would remind many of
how pop star, Goldie, also died about three months ago. She had passed
on shortly after she returned from the U.S where she attended the Grammy
Awards.
Information also has it that Ozako returned from South Africa on Wednesday and complained of dizziness on arrival.
He was being taken to Lagos University
Teaching Hospital when he collapsed and was pronounced dead on arrival.
The death has been linked to cardiac arrest.
Ozako was the principal consultant at
Maxaro Consulting, where he was supported by a team of
inter-disciplinary professionals with an avowed interest in the areas
covered by by the firm’s services.
According to the company’s profile, it
was established to provide a range of multi disciplinary services for
practitioners and those interested in the media, entertainment and
creative industries.
“It is borne out of the realization of
the need for this kind of establishment and resource point. ALso it is
grounded in over two decades of practice and other experience by the
proponent and other resource persons involved with the company,” the
profile further indicates
It says about the deceased, “Efere Ozako
has been in active legal practice for over 23 years. His love,
involvement and understanding of entertainment and creative industries
has, however, resulted in an active presence and practice in all areas
of the creative arts, from comedy, the music industry, to film,
television, fine and creative arts to fashion, broadcast, etc.
“He has delivered several formal and
informal lectures at various fora and attended and participated in a
diverse range of events, workshops, seminars and festivals, such as The
American Film Market in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, USA; BOBTV – Abuja,
Nigeria; Zuma Film Festival, Abuja International Film Festival, Lagos
International Film Festival, AMAA; the Sithengi Film Festival, Cape
Town, South Africa; Moshito Music Conference, Johannesburg, South
Africa; World Intellectual Property Organisation workshops and regional
summits.
“He also founded Dtalkshop, publishers of Takaii magazine, one of Nigeria’s premier law enlightenment tabloids and hosts of the Wetin Lawyers Dey Do … Sef ?
(i.e. What do Lawyers even do? in proper English) seminars, which have
held since 2001 in Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, Accra (Ghana) and Nairobi
(Kenya).”
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