The Nigerian Copyright Commission has arrested eight individuals for allegedly selling pirated books at Sapon Market, Abeokuta, and Under Bridge, Sango Ota.
The NCC’s enforcement team, accompanied by officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, also sealed their shops as part of a major anti-piracy operation on Thursday.
According to The PUNCH, the State Coordinator of the NCC’s Ibadan office, Mrs. Oluropo Oke led the operation aimed at combating copyright violations and protecting intellectual property rights.
The team’s first stop was in Sango Ota, where two suspects were apprehended with hundreds of pirated books, and their shops were subsequently sealed.
The operation then moved to Sapon Market in Abeokuta, where six more individuals were arrested, and a large quantity of pirated materials was confiscated.
Addressing the media after the arrests, Mrs. Oke highlighted the significant impact of piracy on the economy and the creative industry.
“Piracy harms not just the economy but also society at large. It prevents authors from receiving the benefits of their hard work and discourages them from producing more.
“The purpose of this enforcement is to show that the NCC will not tolerate those who exploit others’ intellectual property for profit,” Oke stated.
She warned that anyone caught dealing in pirated books would face strict legal consequences, adding that under the new Copyright Act of 2022, offenders could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
“Today, we arrested eight booksellers and sealed their shops. If they are found guilty, they will face the full weight of the law, including potential jail time,” she added.
Booksellers were urged by Mrs. Oke to refrain from dealing in pirated goods and to support the nation’s economic growth by purchasing original works from publishers.
A publisher involved in the operation, Mr. Olatunde Oguniran, also spoke out against piracy, describing it as a major threat to the publishing industry.
“Piracy is devastating to authors and publishers alike. Imagine working hard only for others to profit from your efforts. It’s demoralizing and could drive many out of business,” he said.
He called for stronger collaboration between the NCC, publishers, and writers to eradicate piracy and advised booksellers to source their stock directly from legitimate publishers to avoid legal trouble.
One of the suspects, who identified himself as Tedus, expressed regret over his involvement in selling pirated books, claiming that he was unaware they were illegal copies. “I didn’t know the books were pirated. I got them from my supplier,” he said.
The suspects and seized materials were taken to the NCC’s Ibadan Zonal Office for further investigation and possible prosecution.
