NCC docks 7 over book piracy
Seven book piracy suspects arrested during an enforcement operation by the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) have been arraigned at the Federal High Court 1, Umuahia, Abia State.
The defendants, Emmanuel Onyejekwe, Ifeanyi Okoro, Ejike Alozie, Emenike Owunna, Ihueze Kyrian, Ebuka Emecheta and Echezona Nwachukwu, were arraigned on October 9, 2020, before Hon. Justice E. N. Anyadike on different counts of criminal infringement of the Copyright Act 2004.
The seven pleaded not guilty to their charges, and the eighth accused person, Nnadozie Igwe, is yet to be arraigned.
A three-count charge proffered against four of the defendants, Emmanuel Onyejekwe, Ifeanyi Okoro, Ejike Alozie and Emenike Owunna, were, importation of infringing copies of literary works in which copyright subsists without authorisation contrary to Section 20(1), (b) of the Copyright Act, 2004; selling, exposing or offering for sale infringing copies of work in which copyright subsists contrary to Section 20(2) (a) of the Copyright Act 2004 and being in possession, other than for private or domestic use, infringing copies of works in which copyright subsists contrary to Section 20(2)(c) of the Copyright Act 2004.
Others, Ihueze Kyrian, Ebuka Emecheta and Echezona Nwachukwu, were arraigned on a two-count charge of: “Selling, exposing or offering for sale infringing copies of work in which copyright subsists contrary to Section 20(2) (a) of the Copyright Act 2004,” and “Being in possession, other than for private or domestic use infringing copies of works in which copyright subsists contrary to Section 20(2) (c) of the Copyright Act 2004.”
The accused were granted bail with two sureties each. Hearing in the cases of Emmanuel Onyejekwe, Ifeanyi Okoro, Ejike Alozie and Emenike Owunna was adjourned to November 25, 2020, while the cases of Ihueze Kyrian, Ebuka Emecheta and Echezona Nwachukwu were adjourned November 24, 2020.
The arraignment of the accused persons was a followup action on NCC’s anti-piracy raid carried out in Aba, Abia State, on October 8, 2019, during which eight book piracy suspects were arrested.
Thirty-five thousand pirated books valued at N70m were impounded during the operation.