NEWS
Court Orders NetNaija CEO, Emmanuel Analike Remanded in Kuje Prison Over Alleged Online Piracy, Copyright Infringement and Distribution of Illegal Movie and Music Content
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Netnaija Media Enterprises, Emmanuel Analike, has been remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of copyright infringement and online piracy.
Analike was on Wednesday remanded in Kuje corrections facility after he was arraigned on charges bordering on possession of infringe copies works, making infringe copies works, distribution of infringe works and making infringe copies of works to others.
Analike was arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).
Presiding over the matter, Justice Suleiman Liman ordered that Analike be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application, which the court fixed for March 9.
The judge fixed the date after counsel to the defendant, Nnemeka Ejiofor, informed the court that a formal application for bail had already been filed.
Ejiofor told the court that the application was filed on Monday and supported by 23 paragraphs of affidavits alongside a written address urging the court to grant bail to the defendant.
However, Justice Liman declined to deliver a bench ruling on the application during the proceedings and instead adjourned the ruling on the bail application to March 9.
Earlier during the hearing, the prosecution counsel, Gladys Isaac-Ojo, who is the Head of Legal Counsel to the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), informed the court that the case had been scheduled for arraignment.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly committed offences contrary to and punishable under Section 44 (1) (a) of the Copyright Act, 2022.
Despite the allegations, the Netnaija boss pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the court proceedings, counsel to the NCC, Gladys Isaac-Ojo, explained that Analike was arrested following allegations of online piracy and infringement of copyright works.
She noted that the alleged piracy involved sound recordings and audiovisual works, including movies belonging to both local and international authors.
“I am so excited that we were able to get him after all efforts. It it a huge success and something remarkable because of the joy it would bring to the NCC,” she said.
“It is a victory on our side, though the case has not started, but the arraignment alone is a victory for us.”
Isaac-Ojo further stated that the defendant has the legal right to seek bail, adding that the final decision lies solely with the court.
“We’ll be back in court on Monday for ruling on the bail application before proceeding to trial after a given date of trial.”
“He has the right to file a bail application under the law, so the judge will decide whether he will grant the bail or not.
“So just right as our lawsuit, we can charge the person and charge his company when a company is involved in infringement.”
“He committed the act through his company, so that’s why we charged him and his company. The company is NetNaija, an online movie and music download site,” she stressed.
The case is expected to resume on March 9 for the ruling on the bail application, after which the court will set a 
date for the commencement of trial.