ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), has raided and impounded illegal digital cable networks worth N250 million, in Enugu State.
This according to the Commission, would serve as a deterrent to others in the business.
The Commission had on 21 September, sealed the premises of a digital television station, Real Summit Television, located at Nsukka, Enugu State.
It was gathered that the television station was allegedly stealing the programme contents of other digital satellite transmitting stations like DSTV and Startimes.
The Commission before sealing the station at Ugwuoye, Nsukka, had first arrested the Manager, Mr Daniel Anedo and subsequently demobilised the station by removing the gadgets used in getting signals for onward transmission.
The gadgets and equipment demobilised included the transmitter, decoders, inverters, and the scramblers.
The Commission also switched off the transmitter and other gadgets so that there would be no way the broadcast station could indulge in pirating other stations.
Speaking on Sunday, the Enugu State Director, NCC, Mrs Okeke Ngozi said Anedo was arrested while doing illegal broadcasting activities and his equipment impounded.
Mrs Ngozi noted also that Anedo was arrested sometime in March but still went back to the same business without permission from the cable network.
Condemning the act, she urged other citizens doing the same illegal business to desist from it as it was discouraging the investor that invested in that line of business.
“The illegal operation prevents the real owners from engaging unemployed Nigerians and NCC is warning them that if they continue, the full wrath of the law will descend on them.
“They will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly,” she said.
The state Director said that the Director-General of NCC, Dr John Asein had zero tolerance for piracy, adding that he was more committed in the fight against it.
“It is no longer business as usual, NCC under our Director-General is fighting piracy in all aspect of copyright as well as creative works.
“All the perpetrators will soon be clamped down, no matter how long it will take,” she said.
On his part also, the Leader of the Operation, Mr Macfoy Akachukwu, an Assistant Director, NCC, Enugu Office said the operation took place to stop them from stealing other stations’ contents.
“We were not interested in what they were doing except that they were pirating other Cable Network programme contents.
“If they want to operate an independent station, we have no problem with that, What we will not tolerate is the piracy going on at the station,” he said.