In line with the commission’s on-going fight against piracy and intellectual property theft, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) carried out an anti-piracy raid at Alaba International Market in Lagos on Saturday, 12th March, 2016.
The raid followed a complaint by Mr. Gabriel Okoye (Gabosky), who
alleged that a cinematography work titled “Invasion 1897” which was
produced by Mr. Lancelot Imasuen in which he (Gabosky) has the sole
rights to marketing and distribution has been infringed.
Facts before the Commission showed that the movie was yet to be
released for sales. It is presently showing at the cinemas in Nigeria.
One Mr. Eze Obasi, a trader in Alaba International Market, started
reproducing and redistributing the film for sale.
He was thereafter arrested by the police and transferred to the Commission for further investigation.
In the process of the investigation, it was revealed that there were
other pirates who were engaged not only in the illegal reproduction of
the named movie but generally in the racket of pirating copyright works
in Alaba International Market. An anti-piracy operation was conducted by
the Enforcement officers of the commission, and a team of policemen
which led to the arrest of two (2) identified suspects.
On the 12th day of March, 2016, the Nigerian Copyright Commission as
part of its anti-piracy operations stormed Alaba International Market,
Ojo to conduct a search of the identified shops used by the suspects to
carry out their racket. During the operations we discovered different
pirated cinematography works, and duplicating machines that were used to
illegally reproduce the works of several right owners.
Amongst the illegally reproduced cinematography works recovered from
the shops includes, Invasion 1897, Phone Swap, The Wrong Selfie,
Honeymoon Hotel, Breaking Ranks, Weekend Getaway, Oyenusi (Pt. 1 &
2), Prince Barmah, Contract, A Certain Night, Lima (Pt. 1 – 2), Alayo
(Pt. 1, 2, & 3), Olosa (Pt. 1, 2, & 3), Irawo Osan. Other
cinematography works found includes, pirated films and works of stand-up
comedian – AY. These pirated works were confiscated by our copyright
inspectors during the anti-piracy operation.
Whilst Mr. Eze Obasi has been charged to court by the Commission, the other two suspects are being investigated.
The operatives of the Commission were accompanied on the hugely
successful raid by Police officers from the Area E Police Command and
members of the Alaba market union.
Speaking on the matter, the Zonal Manager of the Lagos office of the
Commission, Barrister Obi Ezeilo said that the Commission is
investigating the matter and that the suspects will be the charged to
Court. He warned people who are involved in piracy to desist from such
act noting that the Commission is determined to fish them out and apply
the law accordingly if they continue with their illegality.
The seizures from the raid were estimated to worth of N10million
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