Trademark War: Young Kano Tea Producer Battles Injustice Despite Legal Victory, Seeks Govt Support
A young entrepreneur from Kano, Yusuf Imam Yahaya, has accused powerful business interests and complicit institutions of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation and harassment against him, despite securing a legal victory over a protracted trademark dispute.
Yusuf, 27, co-founded a local tea production company that has grown into a major employer in the state with over 500 staff. He claims the company is under siege, not because it broke the law, but because it followed it.
“We followed every legal and regulatory requirement,” he told this reporter. “Our business is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), we obtained a trademark through due process, and our products are certified by NAFDAC and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).”
Despite this, Yusuf says the company has faced relentless attacks stemming from a legal dispute with a rival brand known as Top Tea. According to him, the disagreement — now in its sixth year — began over the branding of their tea product.
Court Win, Continued Persecution
The case, Yusuf said, was taken to court and resolved in his company’s favor. The court ruled that the rival party had no valid claim over the trademark in question.
“The judgment was clear: we own the brand. But instead of respecting the verdict, they’ve used alternative tactics — including media attacks and even getting Interpol involved,” he alleged.
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Yusuf revealed that defamatory articles were circulated in the media, and his name was reportedly placed on a wanted list, despite the matter being purely civil in nature.
“This is not a case of theft or fraud. It’s a business branding issue. The logo wasn’t even designed by us — a professional agency handled that, and they’ve taken responsibility. Yet, we are the ones being persecuted.”
A Northern Struggle
For Yusuf, the battle is no longer just about his company. He believes his ordeal is emblematic of a larger systemic issue — the marginalization of Northern entrepreneurs.
“Foreign companies and investors operate freely here. But when we — the locals — try to build something, we’re treated like criminals,” he said.
He warned that such targeted attacks discourage youth entrepreneurship and deepen unemployment in the region.
“We employ hundreds of people — breadwinners, fathers of large families. Bringing down our company affects the lives of countless households.”
Defiance and Resilience
Yusuf and his elder brother, co-founders of the enterprise, say they remain undeterred by the ongoing challenges.
“We’re 27 and 29. We started this with the aim of lifting our people out of poverty, creating jobs, and showing that Northern youth can lead. We won’t back down.”
The entrepreneur’s story sheds light on the challenges facing small and medium-scale businesses in Nigeria, especially those run by young people in the North. As the dispute unfolds, stakeholders are calling on regulatory bodies, civil society, and community leaders to uphold justice and protect legitimate businesses.
“Justice must not just be done,” Yusuf stressed. “It must be seen to be done.”
