Veteran folk singer Segun Akinlolu, popularly known as Beautiful Nubia, has alleged that gospel musicians Yinka Ayefele and emerging artiste BBO copied the melody of his song Seven Lifes without authorisation.

The singer made the claim in a post on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that Ayefele’s 2012 track My Faith in God (Igbagbo Ireti) and BBO’s recent single Amin borrowed heavily from his original composition.

“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’,” he wrote.

Expressing concern over what he described as a recurring issue in the music industry, Beautiful Nubia questioned when Nigerian artistes, particularly those in the gospel genre, would begin to respect copyright laws and intellectual property.

Known for his culturally rooted storytelling and distinctive sound, the singer emphasised the importance of originality and proper attribution in creative works, warning that disregard for copyright undermines artistic integrity.

His comments have sparked discussions among music enthusiasts, reviving debates around intellectual property protection, originality, and ethical standards within Nigeria’s music scene.

Beautiful Nubia further urged artistes to be mindful of copyright regulations and ensure their works do not infringe on others’ creative rights.

As of the time of this report, neither Ayefele nor BBO had publicly responded to the allegations.