The Lagos Zonal Office of the Nigerian Copyright Commission has arrested 25 suspected pirates, and seized goods worth N76.6 million in 2016,the Zonal Manager,Mr Obi Ezielo, announced yesterday in Lagos.
The suspects were arrested at Alaba, Shomolu, Ajegunle and Ojo, while the seized goods include 350,000 copies of optical discs, some home videos, movies, musical works and literary books, suspected of being pirated.
Ezeilo said that NCC seized N20 million worth of goods seized in Alaba market in March and N1.5million goods in April in the same market.
‘’In June, N5 million goods were seized at Shomolu, in July, N50 million worth of goods were also seized in Shomolu while in August, N50,000 worth of goods were seized in Ajegunle Lamlad,” he said.
Ezeilo said that some of the suspects had been charged to the Federal High Court in Lagos.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the commission conducted anti-piracy inspection in professional print, publishing and CDs’ distribution outlets within Lagos metropolis where it made some seizures.
He said that the commission would step up its anti-piracy raids and eradication in 2017.
“Despite the financial constraints confronting the commission, we will not fail to discharge our mandate, because the eradication of piracy attitude is our utmost priority.”
He said that though 2017 was a challenging year for the commission, the commission made it marks.