Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NetNaija Media Enterprises Emmanuel Analike has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an alleged copyright infringement charge.
Mr. Analike was brought before Justice Suleiman Liman on Wednesday following a suit filed by the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
The commission accused him of possessing, reproducing and distributing films and music through the NetNaija platform without authorisation from the rights holders.
The charges were filed under the Copyright Act 2022.
When the charges were read in court, Analike pleaded not guilty.
His counsel applied for bail and told the court that the application had been filed earlier. An affidavit and a written address supported the application.
Justice Liman did not deliver a ruling on the bail request during the sitting. He ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending a decision on the application.
The court fixed March 9 for the ruling on the bail request.
According to the prosecution, the NetNaija platform was used to distribute third-party films, music and other materials for public download without permission.
Prosecuting counsel said the alleged offences fall under Section 44(1)(a) of the Copyright Act.
Emmanuel Analike established NetNaija Media Enterprises in 2019 as a sole proprietorship offering internet services.
The NetNaija platform provides downloads of films, music and videos and has attracted a large number of users in Nigeria.
The case is part of the Nigerian Copyright Commission’s efforts to enforce copyright laws in the digital space and address the distribution of protected works without authorisation.
In recent years, filmmakers and musicians in Nigeria have raised concerns about the distribution of their works on websites that allow downloads without permission.
There have also been disputes over the broadcast and distribution of films within and outside Nigeria.
