Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has brought two men accused of book piracy before Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State, after they were re-arrested for failing to appear in court despite earlier being served legal documents in 2024.
Gatekeepers News reports that the suspects, identified as Martins Ikechukwu Nwokorie and Ikenna Nwosu, were tracked down during a renewed enforcement operation by officials of the commission following intelligence reports that they had evaded court proceedings. The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Ijeoma Egbunike.
According to the commission, surveillance operations were intensified in February 2026 as part of efforts to locate the suspects. NCC operatives carried out coordinated monitoring and intelligence gathering between February 22 and February 24 before eventually locating the two men in Owerri. They were re-arrested on February 25 and 26.
Following their arrest, the suspects were taken before the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri on March 3, 2026. The case, filed under charge number FHC/OW/45C/2025, was heard by Justice Wigwe-Oreh Chituru Joy. Alubo Inalegwu represented the Nigerian Copyright Commission in the case, while the defendants were represented by their legal counsels, G. O. Anyalemechi and S. D. Ndukwe.
After the charges were read in court and the defendants entered their pleas, the judge granted them bail but attached strict conditions to the release. The court ordered each defendant to produce reliable sureties and execute a bail bond of three million naira. Until the bail conditions are fulfilled, the suspects are to remain in custody at the correctional centre located along Okigwe Road in Owerri.
Authorities said the case forms part of the commission’s wider campaign against copyright infringement, particularly the illegal reproduction and sale of textbooks and academic publications. Book piracy has remained a major concern in Nigeria, especially around educational institutions where counterfeit copies of books are often sold at lower prices.
Commenting on the case, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, John O. Asein, stressed that the commission remains determined to tackle piracy and protect the rights of authors and publishers.
“Piracy undermines creativity and deprives authors and publishers of the rewards of their intellectual labour. The Commission will continue to track down offenders and ensure that those who violate copyright law are brought to justice.”
Asein explained that the NCC has adopted intelligence-driven enforcement strategies across the country to track down piracy networks and prosecute offenders in order to safeguard Nigeria’s creative and knowledge industries.
He also called on key players in the book industry, including writers, publishers, booksellers, and educational institutions, to support the commission’s anti-piracy campaign. According to him, stakeholders must ensure compliance with copyright laws, carefully verify the sources of books they deal with, and promptly report suspected piracy activities to the commission.
NCC noted that stronger cooperation from industry stakeholders will help reduce the circulation of illegal books and protect the intellectual property rights of creators in Nigeria.
