NCC Arrests Ten Suspected Pirates, Impounds136 Copies of Pirated Bibles

By Seriki Adinoyi in Jos 

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Bauchi Office, in collaboration with armed Mobile Policemen, has confiscated N136,000 worth of 136 copies of pirated Revised Standard Version (RSV) and Hausa translation of King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible during an anti-piracy operation carried out in Jos, Plateau State. 

Ten suspected copyright pirates were also arrested in the raid recovery during the weekend.  

A press statement signed by  a Deputy Director Vincent Oyefeso,‎  ‎explained that the raid by the commission followed a complaint of infringement on its copyright protected titles lodged by the Bible Society of Nigeria. 

Oyefeso said, “based on intelligence gathered during surveillance activities, the commission carried out the enforcement action pursuant to its powers under the Nigerian Copyright Act CAP C28 LFN 2004.

“The arrested suspects are Ebuka Okoye, Onyinya Ohaji, Christian Greg, Ambrose Shallong and Godwin Erem.

“Others are Onyinya Anyache, Ignanis Ogoz, Nkechi Ugwu, Esther Ezenwa and Onye Abel David.”

He added that the production, importation, possession, distribution, hire, sale or display for sale of infringing copies of copyright protected products is an offence, liable on conviction to various terms of fine or imprisonment or both under sections 20 and 21 of the Nigerian Copyright Act, CAP C28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.