Renowned Entertainment Lawyer And Intellectual Property Rights Advocate, Rockson Igelige, Is Dead

By Andrew Abuza

Renowned Nigerian entertainment and Intellectual Property (IP) lawyer, Rockson Akpotiri Igelige, has died at the age of 55.

Igelige reportedly slumped and died at his residence in Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Friday morning, August 21, 2026.

The immediate cause of his death was not known at the time of filing this report, while his remains have reportedly been deposited in a mortuary in Oleh.

Born on June 1, 1971, Igelige was a native of Oleh Kingdom and was widely recognised across Nigeria’s legal and creative industries for his contributions to entertainment, media and intellectual property law.

The Nigerian legal and entertainment communities have been thrown into mourning following his death, with colleagues and members of the creative industry describing him as a strong advocate for the rights of creatives.

Igelige attended Odoro Primary School and Emore Grammar School, both in Oleh, before studying Theatre Arts at the University of Benin between 1992 and 1996.

He later studied Law at Delta State University, Oleh Campus, and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in Lagos, where he obtained his legal qualification and was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He subsequently earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Entertainment Law from the University of Westminster, London, where his master’s research focused on British and Nigerian laws relating to film piracy.

Before becoming a lawyer, Igelige completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Geidam, Yobe State, where he was involved in community development and educational awareness projects. He reportedly received an NYSC Yobe State Award and a Yobe State News Award in recognition of his activities during his service year.

Igelige also ventured into politics following Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. He was elected as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) councillor representing Oleh Ward 1 in Isoko South Local Government Area.

He initially served as Supervisory Councillor for Health before becoming Speaker/Leader of the local government legislative house, a position he reportedly held until 2012.

Over the years, Igelige built a reputation as one of Nigeria’s prominent lawyers specialising in entertainment, copyright and intellectual property law, representing and advising musicians, actors, producers, labels and other creative professionals.

He was instrumental in advancing conversations around intellectual property rights in Nollywood, the music industry and the broader Nigerian creative sector.

One of the high-profile copyright disputes associated with him involved musician Omenuwoma Dovie, popularly known as Baba 2010, and telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria over the alleged use of the artiste’s musical works.

The dispute involved proceedings before the Federal High Court and the Nigerian Copyright Commission before it was eventually resolved out of court.

Igelige also represented and advised creators in several other copyright-related disputes and consistently advocated stronger copyright protection, fair contracts, proper royalty arrangements and legal reforms aimed at protecting the works and economic interests of Nigerian artists and other creatives.

In 2017, he founded the Friends of the Creator (Artistic) Foundation in Oleh, an organisation established to promote intellectual property education, advocacy, research and support for artists and other creative professionals.

His contributions to the entertainment and legal sectors earned him professional recognition, including the Entertainment Lawyer of the Year award in 2019. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oleh Branch, publicly congratulated him on the recognition.

His intellectual property advocacy also attracted international attention, with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) listing Igelige in connection with the Friends of the Creator Foundation.

In 2021, the Nigerian Bar Association appointed him to its Future of Legal Practice Committee.

Igelige was also a prolific writer, commentator and speaker who contributed to discussions on emerging issues in entertainment, copyright and intellectual property law.

At the time of his death, Igelige was the Principal Partner of Rockson Legal, with its main office on Odoro Road, Oleh. His firm described him as an award-winning entertainment, sports and media lawyer who represented artists, labels, producers and other creators in litigation and arbitration.

Beyond his legal practice, Igelige was actively involved in community development and legal advocacy in Delta State, mentoring young lawyers and supporting initiatives aimed at promoting the arts and creative sector.

His career spanned theatre, politics, law, entertainment, intellectual property advocacy and community development, making him a prominent figure in Oleh and the wider Isoko region.

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Tributes have begun to pour in from colleagues, clients, entertainers and other members of the creative industry, with many describing him as a “giant”, “defender of creatives” and “mentor”.

His death comes at a time when copyright, intellectual property, royalties and the protection of creative works remain major issues in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

The legal and entertainment sectors have lost one of their prominent voices and advocates for creatives, while his sudden death has sent shockwaves through the Isoko nation, particularly his hometown of Oleh, where he was widely known and respected.

Igelige is survived by his wife and three children.