Man arraigned for allegedly pirating Nigerian Weekly Law Reports
A 37 years old man, Chidi Ofoekwe has been arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos for allegedly pirating series of publications of the Nigerian Law Publications Limited.
Ofoekwe was arraigned before Justice Sule Hassan on 24 count charge brought against him by the police of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) Panti, Lagos.
The police prosecutor, Emmanuel Eze told the court that the defendant who is a publisher of Legal Crest committed the offences at his office located 1/3 Simpson Street, Lagos Island, between January and August 2017.
Among the Nigerian Law Publications Limited books allegedly pirated by the defendant includes Comprehensive Index of Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR) (2015) Volumes 1 and 2; Nigerian Weekly Law Report part 335; Nigerian Weekly Report part 1482, 1491 and several others.
His offences are contrary to and punishable under Sections 20 (2) (a) of the Copy Rights Act Cap. C28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following his plea of not guilty, the court granted him bail in various terms and conditions.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Law Publications Limited, Mr. Mojeed Ajao in his testimony, narrated to court how the pirated copies of the books were discovered.
The judge subsequently adjourned further hearing of the matter to April 30, 2020.
Part of the charge marked FHC/L/253c/18, against the defendant reads: “that you Chidi Ofoekwe ”M” and others now at large between January and August, 2017 at Legal Crest Limited at No. 1/3 Simpsons Street, off lgbosere Road, Lagos Island in the Lagos Judicial Division did sell infringed copies Comprehensive Index of Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (2015) Volumes 1 and 2, in which copyright subsists in favour of Nigerian Law Publications Limited to Integrity Solicitors and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 20 (2) (a) of the Copyrights Act Cap. C28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
