The Nigerian Copyright Commission says it has arrested a Chinese national suspected to be a piracy kingpin and leader of a syndicate that specialised in trans-border piracy of books.
The Commission said this while announcing the seizure of pirated imported books worth N300 million in a single operation carried out at Tedi Village in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Director-General of the Commission, Mr Afam Ezekube, told a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday that the seizure was made on June 22.
He added that investigations had commenced to fish out other members of the syndicate, adding that they would soon be prosecuted in court.
“The success of the anti-piracy operation was as a result of the standing collaboration between the Commission and the Nigerian Police; I sincerely thank the police for their immense support in the fight against piracy.
“I use this opportunity to sternly warn all pirates to desist from importing pirated books and other items as the Commission is determined more than ever before to seize them and prosecute offenders.
“I urge the copyright owners and owners associations to deepen their support for the commission for anti-piracy fight.
“Their support is very crucial in intelligence gathering, investigations and prosecution of copyright offenders, ” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese national (name withheld), claimed that he did not know that the books were pirated and that he was only a marketer in the company.
He also said he was ignorant of the country’s anti- piracy laws.
