Man remanded for pirating Nigerian Weekly Law Reports

Paul Iyoghojie

The Managing Director of Legal Crest Nigeria Limited, Lagos Island, Lagos, Chidi Ofoekwe, 37, has been remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending an advice from the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP for allegedly printing and selling copies of the comprehensive index to Nigerian Weekly Law Report, 2015 volume one and two without the approval of the copy right owners.

The order was handed down by Magistrate, P. A. Adekomaiya following an application for the remand of the accused presented by the police counsel, Friday Mammeh before the court.

The accused, a resident of Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos from Imo State, Southeast Nigeria was arrested on the order of the DPO in charge of Lion Building Division,  CSP Folashade Tanaruno following a complain by the management of Nigerian Law Publishing Limited.

Ofoekwe was dragged before an Igbosere Magistrate Court on a three-count charge of felony to wit. printing copies of the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports , 2015 without approval of the owners.

Police counsel, Friday Mammeh informed the Court In Charge No M/54/2017/ that the accused committed the alleged offence between 2016 and 2017 on Lagos Island, Lagos.

Mammeh told the court that the accused unlawfully printed and displayed for sale copies of the comprehensive weekly law reports 2015 volume 1 and 2 without the counsel of the management of the Nigerian law publishing limited.

He said that nemesis caught up with the accused when he sold copies of the volume one and two to the management of Pinheiro L P Chambers and Integrity Solicitors who exposed him.

Mammeh said that the offences committed were punishable under section 411 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2015 and 20 (1) (c) and 21 (2) of the copy right act cap C28 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2009 as applicable in Lagos State.

the plea of the accused was not taking and magistrate Adekomaiya adjourned the case till 16 October, 2017 for DPP’s advice report.