Nollywood actress and filmmaker Bimbo Ademoye has raised a public alarm after YouTube removed monetisation from her movie Where Love Lives following an alleged fraudulent copyright claim on one of its soundtracks.
According to Ademoye, the song in question is a track she fully owns, with proper clearance and approval obtained directly from the artist before it was used in the film. Despite this, she says an individual identified as Emmanuel Davies filed a copyright claim against the movie, leading YouTube to redirect monetisation away from her channel.
In an emotional statement shared on social media, Bimbo accused Davies of stealing her soundtrack, uploading it to digital platforms such as Spotify, and then using that upload to falsely assert ownership.
“A song I have full ownership of… was lifted and claimed by one Emmanuel Davies.
Not only did he steal my song, he also claimed copyrights and took monetisation,” she wrote.
The actress stressed that she follows due process on every project, noting that she pays for all soundtracks used in her films and conducts thorough checks before uploading any content online.
As a result of the claim, YouTube reportedly demonetised Where Love Lives, meaning ad revenue from the film is now being withheld or redirected while the dispute is unresolved.
Bimbo described the situation as deeply frustrating, especially given the time, resources, and financial investment that went into producing the movie.
Taking a firm stance, the actress warned that she intends to pursue the matter through legal and regulatory channels, stating that she would not back down until the issue is fully addressed.
“Until I see you behind bars, I will not rest. I’d let the authorities do their job,” she added.
For many Nigerian filmmakers who rely on YouTube revenue, such claims pose a serious threat to sustainability in an industry already battling piracy.