Veteran Nigerian folk singer Segun Akinlolu, popularly known as Beautiful Nubia, has accused gospel musicians Yinka Ayefele and BBO of infringing on the copyright of his classic song Seven Lifes.
In a post on X on Thursday, February 19, 2026, he alleged that both artists used the core melody of his original work without permission or acknowledgment.
Beautiful Nubia specifically cited Ayefele’s 2012 gospel track My Faith in God (Igbagbo Ireti) and BBO’s 2026 release Amin, claiming both songs borrowed heavily from Seven Lifes.
He questioned when Nigerian musicians, particularly those in the gospel genre, would begin to respect copyright laws, writing, “There was Yinka Ayefele with My Faith in God (Igbagbo Ireti) in 2012 and now someone called BBO with Amin this year. Both stole their melodies from our original song Seven Lifes.”
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The allegations have drawn attention to ongoing concerns over intellectual property rights in Nigeria’s music industry, particularly within the gospel music scene.
As of now, neither Ayefele nor BBO has responded publicly to the claims.
Beautiful Nubia, who rose to prominence in the late 1990s, is celebrated for his contributions to Nigerian folk and roots music and has long been an advocate for artistic rights and cultural expression.