The faces and identities of five of the top pirates operating in the popular Alaba market has been revealed after a raid on the market.
The task force arm of the Nigerian Film and Videos Censors Board have nabbed five traders in Alaba market, who pirated top selling movies like Jenifa's Diary, October 1 and 30 Days In Atlanta.
Pulse
gathered that the five movie and music pirates, who were nabbed while
mass producing other creative works of several Nigerian filmmakers have
been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The names of the alleged pirates were given as David Chukwudi, Austin Igboukwu, Ugochukwu Ukwuagu, Chukwuka David and Ndu Celestine.
In a statement by the NFVCB, the five suspected Nollywood movie pirates have been arraigned and remanded in prison over copyright infringements.
"The
accused, David Chukwudi, Austin Igboukwu, Ugochukwu Ukwuagu, Chukwuka
David and Ndu Celestine, who allegedly committed the offence under the
guise of trading in popular Alaba market, appeared at the Federal High
Court, Ikoyi in Lagos charged with copyright infringement, on Thursday,
November 30, 2017.
"Chukwudi,
David and Celestine were charged on 11-count charge bordering on
copyright infringement and use of premises to promote copyright
infringement.
"Igboukwu and Ukwuagwu were charged on 13-count charge also bordering on copyright infringement.
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Five pirates operating in Alaba market(Agadablog)
"In
the first charge, the prosecutor, Barrister Kehinde Oluwole from the
Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, said that Chukwudi, David and
Celestine committed the offence on August 14, 2017 in the premises of
the Alaba International Market, Lagos.
"He
said the accused forged packets of uncensored Nollywood films that
include “Jenifa’s Diary“, “Lord of War“, “The Village War“, “My kids and
I“, “What I want“, “Osinachi my wife’’, among others, for illegal
distribution.
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Five pirates operating in Alaba market(Pulse)
The statement further read: "Oluwole
said the three suspects also engaged in the unauthorised recording of
the said works as well as utilising his business premises for copyright
infringement.
"Chukwudi, David and Celestine, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
"Justice
Muslim Hassan, in a short ruling, ordered the three suspects to be
remanded in prison till the next hearing as their case was adjourned to
December 8 and December 12, 2017 while their bail application were also
denied till next hearing.
"Meanwhile,
Igboukwu and Ukwuagwu, who were charged on 13-count charge bordering on
similar offences, also pleaded not guilty to the charges
"They were alleged to have committed the offences on August 12, 2017 also at a shop in Alaba International market.
"Both
accused were said to have flagrantly packaged for distribution,
unauthorised works that include “Proposal of Arms“, “Sword of Justice“,
“Brave Medium“, “Wedding party“, “The king’s wealth’’, “A trip to
Jamaica“ among others.
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The five pirates operating in Alaba market(Pulse)
"They
were alleged to have packaged the works worth millions of Naira, for
illegal exhibition and distribution.The offences contravene the
provisions of Sections 58 of the Nigerian Films and Video Censor Board
Act, 2004 and Section 20 of the Copyright Act, Cap 28, Laws of The
Federation, 2004.
"Justice
Hassan also adjourned the case till December 8 for trial and hearing of
the bail application of the accused. In the same vein, both Igboukwu and
Ukwuagwu were ordered to be remanded in prison, pending next adjourned
date," the statement read in full.
Pulse reached out to the the lead prosecuting counsel, Barrister Kehinde Oluwole who confirmed the arrest and prosecution of the suspected movie pirates.
Oluwole said “There
isn’t much that happened today aside the hearing of the case filed. The
cases were adjourned till December 8 and 12 while the five accused have
been remanded pending the next hearing.
“The
accused have been charged with four different charges of 11 to 13
counts each. I can tell you that we enjoyed an accelerated hearing
today. The defendants were actually arrested while producing the pirated
CDs and the law will definitely take its full course. I am also sure
this will serve as a deterrence to others, who have been or are engaging
in the act of piracy."
Popular filmmaker, Ralph Nwadike applauded
the activities of the Nigeria Videos and Films Censors Board saying the
arrest and prosecution of the suspected pirates is unprecedented.
He said: “Couple
of years back, what we are witnessing here today never took place.
These guys, I mean the pirates, were supposed to be demi-gods, ghosts
and spirits, people that have some magical powers and people can not
catch or see them despite their atrocities. Theirs is beyond piracy but
the level of impunity, which they have exhibited in years back because
they felt they are above the law. But we know there is a government but
different government has different approach and for the first time, we
have a gentleman in the name of Adedayo Thomas, the DG of the NFVCB,
heard the cries of the film industry stakeholder by saying if indeed
there are people pirating your jobs, let us see what we can do about
them and he has not taken law into his hands but went through it
legally. he hasn’t taken matchetes or clubs like some of us have thought
of doing because you can not keep me on a poverty level by taking my
job and selling it without my consent despite all the finances I have
had to gather, some borrow. And when I talk, you shut me up by
threatening me.”
The raid, arrest and prosecution of movie pirates is coming under the leadership of the new NFVCB boss, Adedayo Thomas.
