The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) yesterday confiscated illegal transmitting equipment worth over N2.5 million in Onitsha, Anambra. The NCC during the raid, which was carried out in Akpaka GRA, 3-3 Estate and Federal Housing, arrested two suspects for allegedly transmitting signals of Multi-Choice, a pay-view television company illegally.
Mr Augustine Amodu, the Director of Enforcement of NCC, said that the rate of illegal signal transmission in Onitsha was alarming. Amodu said that the perpetrators collected up to N3, 000 per month for over 100 households “which is more than the salary of a senior civil servant’’.
He said that the Director-General of NCC, Mr Afam Ezekude, had issued a directive for the continuous raid of Onitsha town until those in the business stopped it and found legitimate things to do.
“We are sounding it as a note of warning that we are out for those pirating the work of right owners and intellectual property in Onitsha.
“We will go to all length within our legal framework to see that we apprehend and prosecute those in the business no matter how remote they think they are.
“Our right owners, intellectuals and stakeholders, must be happy to continue to add to the economy and development of the country. “Onitsha will soon be a no-go area for illegal transmitting of
signals of Multi-Choice; pirating other people’s books and other illegalities,’’ he said.
In his speech, the Zonal Manager of NCC, Mr Emeka Ogbonna, said that those arrested would be prosecuted in the court.
He gave assurance that the zonal office would continue to gather intelligence to fight copyright offenders in Onitsha. “As Onitsha is known for a lot of commercial activities, so is the issue of crime, especially where people feel like cutting corners and reaping where they did not sow.
“It is a battle and we will not rest until they know that Onitsha is a no go area for book piracy, illegal signal transmission and other forms of copyright infringements,’’ Ogbonna said.
The seized items included transmitting decoders, transmission boosters, rolls of installation wires and accessories. (NAN)
