The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of the Chief Executive Officer of NetNaija Media Enterprises, Emmanuel Analike, in custody pending a decision on his bail application over allegations of copyright infringement.
Analike was arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Suleiman Liman following charges brought against him by the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
After the charges were presented in court, the judge directed that the defendant be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the court determines his request for bail.
The court subsequently fixed 9 March for a ruling on the application.
During the proceedings, the prosecution alleged that the defendant was involved in activities linked to digital piracy. The charge filed by the commission accused him of unlawful possession of copyrighted materials, the reproduction of protected works without authorisation, and their distribution through online platforms.
According to the prosecution, the alleged conduct includes making infringing copies of creative works available to members of the public through digital channels.
Prosecutors argued that the offences contravene Section 44 (1) (a) of the Copyright Act 2022.
When the charges were read in open court, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Counsel to the defendant, Nnemeka Ejiofor, informed the court that an application seeking bail had already been filed on behalf of his client.
Ejiofor explained that the request was submitted earlier in the week and supported by a 23-paragraph affidavit together with a written address outlining the legal arguments for the application.
Despite the filing, the court declined to consider the application immediately and adjourned the matter to allow time for a formal ruling.
Following the session, the Head of Legal Services at the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Gladys Isaac-Ojo, spoke with journalists outside the courtroom.
She stated that the defendant’s arrest followed allegations relating to the online distribution of copyrighted materials.
According to her, the works involved include sound recordings as well as audiovisual productions such as films belonging to Nigerian and international content creators.
Isaac-Ojo described the development as a milestone in the commission’s enforcement efforts.
“I am so excited that we were able to get him after all efforts. It is a huge success and something remarkable because of the joy it would bring to the commission,” she said.
She further explained that Nigerian law allows both individuals and corporate entities to face prosecution where copyright infringement occurs through a company’s platform.
In the present case, she noted that the alleged activities were carried out through the NetNaija website, which informed the decision to charge both the defendant and the company linked to the platform.