Copyright: MTN official risks 2 years imprisonment
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has said that the Managing Director of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ferdi Moolman has been evading service of court papers and refusing to honour invitation of its investigators.
NCC director of prosecution Abdul Ter Kohol who disclosed this during a chat with Daily Trust said that NCC would be applying for a bench warrant for the arrest of the MTN boss for refusal to honour the invitation and appear in court.
According to him, “If he makes execution of the bench warrant impossible NCC shall declare him wanted and the effect is that he would be arrested by any security agent wherever he is sighted especially at the Airport.”
NCC has been investigating MTN Nigeria and its Chief Executive Officer, Moolman, over alleged copyright infringement.
In the two-count-charge signed by NCC Prosecutor and Copyright Inspector, Mary Pauline Olere-Luma, MTN and Moolman were alleged to have infringed on copies of the musical work of an Abuja based musician, Dovie Omenuwoma-Eniwo (aka Baba 2010).
The NCC Act gives investigators powers to invite people against whom allegation of copyright infringement were made.
Investigator sent out invitation letters to the MTN boss while examining criminal violation of copyright in musical works but the invitations were not honoured.
Already, a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja has fixed the criminal trial of the duo over the alleged copyright infringement for February 18.
The new date was fixed because the MTN boss did not appear in court to face his trial in charge No: ABJ/CR/379/2015.
Specifically, the defendants were alleged to have distributed “sell or let for hire or for the purposes of trade or business, expose or offer for sale 3009 infringing copies of the musical work” of Baba 2010.
The offences, according to the charge, are contrary to and punishable under Section 20 (2)(a) and 20 (2)(b) of the Copyright Act, Cap C28 Laws of the Federation 2004.
The MTN boss risk a two years jail term if found guilty.