The CEO of NetNaija, Emmanuel Analike, has been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after a Federal High Court ordered his detention over alleged copyright infringement linked to the operations of the popular entertainment website.
Analike was arraigned on multiple counts bordering on alleged online piracy, including possession, reproduction, and distribution of copyrighted materials without authorisation.
Prosecutors told the court that the offences relate to the unauthorised circulation of movies, music and other audiovisual works belonging to both Nigerian and foreign creators.
During proceedings, the defendant entered a not-guilty plea to the four charges filed against him.
The case centres on claims that copyrighted content was made available for download through the NetNaija platform without the consent of the original rights holders.
Counsel to the defendant, Nnemeka Ejiofor, informed the court that a formal bail application had already been submitted on behalf of his client.
According to him, the request was supported by a sworn affidavit containing several paragraphs as well as a detailed written address outlining the legal arguments for bail.
Although the application was argued in court, the presiding judge declined to deliver an immediate decision.
Instead, the court scheduled March 9 for a ruling on the bail request and directed that Analike remain in custody until the matter is determined.
Justice Suleiman Liman subsequently ordered that the defendant be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the outcome of the bail decision.
Earlier in the session, the prosecution, led by Gladys Isaac-Ojo of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), told the court that the case was ready for arraignment and outlined the charges against the accused.
According to the prosecution, the alleged actions violate Section 44(1)(a) of the Copyright Act, 2022, which prescribes penalties for the unauthorised reproduction and distribution of protected works.
Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Isaac-Ojo described the arraignment as a significant step in the agency’s ongoing fight against digital piracy.
“This development shows that copyright enforcement is gaining ground,” she said.
“Creative works deserve protection, and actions like this send a clear message that violations will be pursued through the law.”
She added that both the individual and the company operating the platform were named in the charges because the alleged offences were carried out through the business entity.
“When an infringement occurs through a corporate platform, the law allows us to hold both the individual operator and the organisation accountable,” she explained.
The prosecution also acknowledged that the defendant retains the legal right to seek bail, noting that the court would determine whether the application meets the required conditions.
The matter is expected to resume on March 9, when the court will rule on the bail request before setting a timetable for the commencement of trial proceedings.
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