NCC Seizes Pirated Works, Arrests Eight in Edo

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) working with Nigerian Police recently arrested eight persons for allegedly selling pirated works in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The commission also confiscated eight bags of audiovisual materials recovered from the suspects.

The suspects, including a female, were arrested during the agency’s routine raid of hotspots on Sapele Road, Ramat Park and Siluko Road.

Mr. Joseph Ajang, Zonal Head of Operations, told journalists that the exercise was part of measures to check the spread of piracy in Edo and Delta States, which the zone covers.

Ajang, who lamented that the commission had received several petitions from intellectual property owners, also noted that the operation was in continuation of the nationwide anti-piracy raid by the NCC.

But one of the suspects, who identified himself as Jonathan Okeke and was arrested on Siluko road, claimed to have no knowledge that his wares were pirated.

The 25-year-old suspected, who hails from Ebonyi State, said, “I buy in Benin and Lagos. Unfortunately, the NCC came to my shop and said that I sell pirated audiovisual materials.

“I have been in the business for two to three years now. But I do not know that they (audiovisual materials) are pirated materials. It is my first time to hear about piracy.‎”

However, Ajang said the commission would take inventory of the confiscated goods and prosecute the suspects at the end of its investigation.

He said, “They will always claim ignorance. But we have been educating them that what they sell is against the law. They know the originals, yet they insist that man must survive.

“These seized materials will serve as exhibits. They destroy the economy and deny the rightful owners of the benefits of their works.

“The public should be warned that piracy is a crime and the commission has zero tolerance for piracy. We will continue this fight until we win.‎”