The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has arrested four piracy suspected and impounded 2,500 copies of pirated textbooks worth five million Naira, belonging to various authors and publishers. The seizures and arrests were made during an antipiracy raid carried out by operatives of the Commission at different bookshops in Yaba area of Lagos State on Thursday, 23rd September 2021.
The Director of NCC Lagos Office, Mr. Mathew Ojo who disclosed this stated that following surveillance activities by copyright inspectors, the anti-piracy raid was executed in Yaba books market and 2,500 copies of suspected pirated textbooks were confiscated and four traders suspected to be involved in copyright piracy were arrested.
The suspects arrested in the course of the raid included Onyebuchi Nweke of Victory Books, Chimezie Obi of First Choice Bookshop, Abikoye Sunday of Abikoye Bookshop, and Ikechukwu John Ezenwabuzor of Ikechukwu Bookshop.
The confiscated textbooks included Macmillan’s Verbal Reasoning for Primary Schools by Sunday Okoh and Seun Ojo; Learn Africa’s Basic Civic Education for Junior Secondary Schools by R.W. Okunloye, S.A. Raufu, G.A.A. Zuru and R.U. Okunamiri; Macmillan’s Champion Primary Mathematics 1 by Samuel Ilori, B. Okunmuyide, W.U. Mohammed and S.K. Okechukwu; Living As God’s Children by T.N.O. Quarcoopone, L.E.T. Shyllon and A.J.V. Obinna; Macmillan’s Brilliant Primary English Book 1 and WABP’s Essential Mathematics 1 by A.J. S. Oluwasanmi.
Others were Metropolitan Publishers Limited’s The New Premier English for Primary Schools 4; Learn Africa’s English for Secondary Schools 3; Metropolitan Publishers Limited’s Mastering English for Nursery Schools Book 2 by J.M. Omogbai; Learn Africa’s New Computer Series for Junior Secondary Schools 1; University Press Limited’s Mathematics for Junior Secondary Schools Book 1; Tonad Publishers’ Essential Mathematics and Jomman Publishers’ Essential Chemistry, amongst others.
Speaking operation, the Director of NCC Lagos Office, Mr. Mathew Ojo said, “The outcome of the raid proved that there is no hiding place for those infringing on copyright works. Wherever pirates are, the Commission will find them out”.
According to him, the Commission was already investigating the level of culpability of the arrested piracy suspects. He assured that on conviction, the perpetrators would be prosecuted and the pirated books destroyed.
He cautioned members of the public not to patronise pirated books and advised them to ensure that they bought only original books.
Olumide Oduntan,
Assistant Director, Public Affairs
For: Director-General
