The Federal High Court Abuja on Wednesday, remanded the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Netnaija Media Enterprises, Emmanuel Analike in Kuje corrections facility for alleged copyright infringement.
Justice Suleiman Liman fixed the date after the counsel to the defendant, Nnemeka Ejiofor notified the court that he filed a bail application.
Ejiofor told the court that the application was filed on Monday and supported by 23 paragraphs of affidavits and a written address.
He argued his bail application on Wednesday after 48 hours of arriagment, but the judge refused to give bench ruling and adjourned the ruling of the bail application to March 9.
The judge however ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of the bail on March 9.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Gladys Isaac-Ojo, Head/ Legal counsel to Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment .
According to the prosecution the defendant committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 44 (1) (a) of the Copyright Act, 2022.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.
The four-counts charges against the suspect included allegations of possession of infringe copies works, making infringe copies works, distribution of infringe works and availabilities of infringe copies to others.
Addressing the newsmen after proceedings, counsel to NCC , Isaac-Ojo said the defendant was arrested based on allegations of online piracy or infringement of copyright works, which includes sound recordings, audiovisual works (movies), of both local and international authors.
” I am so excited that we were able to get him after all efforts. It it a huge success and something remarkable because of the joy it would bring to the NCC
“It is a victory on our side, though the case has not started, but the arraignment alone is a victory for us,” she said.
Isaac-Ojo added that his counsel has the right to file a bail application under the law and the judge would decide, but for me I don’t have a say to decide on the bail application.
“We’ll be back in court on Monday for ruling on the bail application before proceeding to trial after a given date of trial.”
“He has the right to file a bail application under the law, so the judge will decide whether he will grant the bail or not.
” So just right as our lawsuit, we can charge the person and charge his company when a company is involved in infringement.
“He committed the act through his company, so that’s why we charged him and his company. The company is NetNaija an online movie and music download site,” she stressed
