Nigerian Copyright Commission v. Ogo Abel

Law Cases and Principles

Nigerian Copyright Commission v. Ogo Abel

NIPJD CitationNIPJD/FHC/2012/FHC-B-60C-12
Document TypeCase Record
CourtFederal High Court, Benin Judicial Division
Suit No.FHC/B/60C/12
Decision Date22 June 2012
JurisdictionNigeria
Area of LawCopyright
SubjectSound Recording Piracy; Cinematograph Film Piracy
StatusConviction
Source ReliabilityOfficial Government Publication

Case Summary

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) prosecuted Ogo Abel before the Federal High Court, Benin Judicial Division, for offences involving sound recording and cinematograph film piracy.

According to official publications issued by the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the court convicted the defendant on 22 June 2012 in Suit No. FHC/B/60C/12. The Commission reported that the prosecution was conducted by Chief Copyright Officer Mike Okezie Madueke, Esq., that no defence counsel appeared, and that the defendant was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with the option of a fine. However, the two official NCC publications differ as to the amount of the fine. The NCC Noticeboard reports an option of a ₦15,000 fine, while the Nigerian Copyright Commission – List of Convictions from 2011 records the fine as ₦17,000. The reason for this discrepancy has not yet been established.

Available Information

Based on the available official publications, the following information has been confirmed:

  • Defendant: Ogo Abel
  • Prosecuting agency: Nigerian Copyright Commission
  • Court: Federal High Court, Benin Judicial Division
  • Suit No.: FHC/B/60C/12
  • Nature of offence: Sound recording and cinematograph film piracy
  • Date of judgment: 22 June 2012
  • Outcome: Conviction
  • Prosecution counsel: Chief Copyright Officer Mike Okezie Madueke, Esq.
  • Defence counsel: None reported
  • Sentence: Three months’ imprisonment with the option of a fine
  • Fine: Official NCC publications contain conflicting information:
    • NCC Noticeboard (June 2012): ₦15,000.
    • Nigerian Copyright Commission – List of Convictions from 2011: ₦17,000.

Why This Case Matters

This case forms part of the Nigerian Copyright Commission’s copyright enforcement activities in 2012. It also highlights the importance of consulting original court records, as two official Nigerian Copyright Commission publications report different amounts for the optional fine imposed upon conviction. Until the court judgment or other official court records are obtained, it cannot be confirmed whether the option of fine was ₦15,000 or ₦17,000. This Case Record therefore preserves both versions of the official record for future verification.

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