NCC arrests 13 for copyright violation in Kaduna State

OFFICIALS of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and armed security operatives raided dealers of pirated copyright works in Kaduna metropolis on Wednesday, leading to the arrest of 13 persons while goods worth over N5 million were seized.

The suspects were arrested at different locations with pirated copyright works such as films, books, software among others, an offence that contravenes the Copyright Act.

The NCC officials who invaded the Central Market and other locations in the town searched many shops, stores and warehouses where the pirated works were produced and sold. Many of the dealers however escaped arrest.

A statement issued by the NCC Zonal Manager (North West), Alhaji Hassan Usman, said that the Commission’s officials backed by armed policemen arrested 13 suspects and seized pirated materials worth N5 million.

According to him, among the items seized during the raid included pirated films such as Shaukin Duniyan, Deadly Price, 30 Days in Atlanta, October 1 and Americans. Some pirated books also recovered during the raid were Power of Politics by Olusegun Obasanjo, There was a Country by Chinua Achebe and The Accidental Civil Servant by Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

Usman explained that, “the Commission wishes to alert parents, guardians and the public to be conscious of pirated copyright works being sold as original,” stressing that, “the Commission is appealing to copyright stakeholders and the general public in North West zone of the country to cooperate with the agency in flushing out pirates of copyright works who are reaping where they did not sow.”

He added that the suspects arrested following the raid in Kaduna would be prosecuted soon.