Operatives of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), backed by armed Police officers, have arrested three suspected pirates and impounded 250 pirated copies of the Holy Bible and different titles of textbooks.
The seizures estimated at one million, five hundred thousand Naira (N1,500,000), were made by the Copyright Inspectors during a recent antipiracy operation carried out at One Way Road, Suleja Market in Niger State.
The suspects, Kelechi Ugwuiro, Romanus Ojimba and Ebuka Chinedu, were arrested for distributing and offering for sale suspected pirated literary works, contrary to provisions of the Nigerian Copyright Act.
The confiscated works included primary and secondary school texts, copies of Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and different versions of the Holy Bible.
According to the Director of Operations of NCC,Operatives of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), backed by armed Police officers, have Mr. Obi Ezeilo, the antipiracy raid led by a Chief Copyright Officer, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ngene, was sequel to surveillance activities earlier carried out by officers of the Commission.
He indicated that further investigation has commenced towards apprehending the main suppliers in the piracy chain and prosecuting the arrested suspects.
The Director reiterated the Commission’s commitment to discharging its enforcement mandates, “especially at this time when the book season is round corner.”
He called on members of the public to assist the Commission by volunteering information on suspected piracy outlets and suspicious warehouses of books through any of its state offices or on the Commission’s website www.copyright.gov.ng.
The Commission’s main operational contacts are: antipiracy hotline: 09019003200; email: [email protected] a statement by Vincent Oyefeso Director,Public Affairs stated.