Rockson Igelige, the lawyer who represented dancer Janemena in her fight with actress Tonto Dikeh last year, has emerged finalist in the global Study UK Alumni Awards for 2021-2022.
The British Council in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday said Mr. Igelige was selected as a finalist in the social action award category.
Igelige had congratulated himself in a message posted on Twitter earlier in the week.
The Study UK Alumni Awards were created by the British Council to recognise UK University alumni who are using their education to make a difference.
Igelige, who holds a first degree in theatre arts from the University of Benin and law from Delta State University, obtained a master’s degree in law from the University of Westminster, UK.
According to award organisers, Igelige emerged finalist for his outstanding performance in raising awareness on copyright, patent and trademark across Nigeria.
He was recognised for his outstanding performance in the fight against piracy in intellectual property through Friends of the Creators Artistic Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) he co-founded after his UK study.
In his presentation, the lawyer said his NGO was recently accorded permanent observer status by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), an agency of the United Nations.
His law firm also prosecuted a suit in which MTN was ordered and made to pay N50million compensation to a musician for the use of his song as ring back tune without authorisation.
Igelige in 2021 wrote a petition on behalf of Janemena to the Inspector-General of Police over alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation of the dancer’s character by Tonto Dikeh.
The letter demanded Tonto retracted her allegation that her ex-lover Prince Kpokpogri had an affair with Janemena.
Igelige also asked that Tonto tender an unreserved apology to Janemena and pay the sum of N500million as exemplary damages.
