The dispute centres on the alleged sale of Burna Boy’s early master recordings — including breakout tracks like Like to Party and Tonight — by Aristokrat Records, the label that launched his career in 2011.

The catalogue was reportedly transferred in mid-2024 to Spaceship Music, Burna Boy’s current imprint managed by his mother, Bose Ogulu.

However, investment firm 960 Music Group, which owns a 40 percent stake in Aristokrat Records, has challenged the deal in court, claiming it was done without its consent.

The matter is now before the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Port Harcourt, with 960 Music seeking to void the transaction. The dispute has also escalated into a criminal complaint handled by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), following allegations against Aristokrat’s founder.

At stake are the master recordings — often considered an artiste’s most valuable long-term asset due to streaming, licensing and international revenue.

With millions potentially on the line, the battle over Burna Boy’s early catalogue could become one of the most consequential music ownership disputes in Nigeria’s entertainment history.