Sabinus Something Hooge Trademark Dispute With Brands Resolved

The trademark dispute involving the viral catchphrase “Something Hooge,” popularly associated with Nigerian comedian Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Ejekwu, known as Sabinus, has been resolved.

The president of the Practitioners of Content Creators, Skit-Makers and Influencers Guild of Nigeria, Micheal Obinna Nwabufo, confirmed that the matter involving major consumer brands has been settled through dialogue and professional engagement.

The dispute earlier involved FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC and UAC Foods Limited, which were accused of using elements associated with Sabinus’ creative identity in promotional campaigns.

Nwabufo had previously initiated legal action seeking ₦1 billion in damages from FrieslandCampina WAMCO and ₦100 million from UAC Foods over the use of the phrase associated with the comedian’s brand.

However, providing an update on the matter, he said the parties had reached an amicable resolution through mutual understanding and partnership.

According to him, the outcome demonstrates that intellectual property disputes within Nigeria’s growing creative industry can be resolved constructively through legal processes and dialogue.

The phrase “Something Hooge,” which gained popularity through Sabinus’ comedy skits, was earlier filed for trademark protection with the Industrial Property Office under the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.
Records show that the word mark was filed on November 26, 2021, and later accepted on December 4, 2021, covering multiple categories, including advertising, financial affairs and entertainment services.

Nwabufo noted that securing the trademark strengthened the recognition of the phrase as a valuable intellectual property asset linked to the Sabinus entertainment brand.

He added that the resolution highlights the importance of protecting the intellectual property rights of content creators in Nigeria’s expanding digital entertainment sector.

According to him, PCCSIGN is also promoting awareness of intellectual property protection and encouraging creators to register their works and establish structured collaborations with brands.

He further disclosed that the guild is developing initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s creator economy through industry guidelines, capacity development programmes, and engagement with government institutions.

Nwabufo also commended the legal teams involved for their professionalism and confirmed that no further legal action is pending on the matter.