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Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe
Justice F. O. Riman of the Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced a trader, Chinonso Ugochukwu to one year imprisonment for pirating the Bible.
Ugochukwu was arraigned on two counts bordering on pirating, being in possession and offering for sale various literary works.
The offence contravened Section 20(2)(c) of the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
During the trial, one of the prosecution witnesses, Martins Umoh, an employee of the Nigeria Copyright Commission, told the court that the agency received complaints from copyright owners, including the Bible Society of Nigeria, alleging that their literary works were being pirated.
Ugochukwu was found guilty on two-count- charge, bordering on pirating of books, being in possession and offering for sale, 578 copies of various literary works, including The Holy Bible (Revised Standard version).
A witness, Martins Umoh, and a staff of Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) told the trial Judge, F.O. Riman that the Commission received complaints from copyright owners, including The Bible Society of Nigeria, alleging that their literary works were being pirated.
As a result, they embarked on search in several local government areas of the state, adding that it was during the search that several copies of pirated literary works were found in Ugochukwu’s shop located at No 17 Grace Bill Road, Eket, in Akwa Ibom State.
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