NCC Re-arrests Book Pirates in Owerri, Arraigns in Court

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has re-arrested and arraigned two suspected book pirates, Mr. Martin Ikechukwu Nwokori and Mr.

Ikenna Nwosu, in Owerri, Imo State. The suspects failed to appear in federal high court despite being duly served court processes.

Their apprehension followed intensified surveillance and intelligence-led enforcement operations conducted by the NCC on February 22-24, 2026. They were tracked and re-arrested on February 25-26, 2026, based on credible intelligence.

The suspects were subsequently arraigned in federal high court in Owerri before Justice Wigw Oreh Chituru on March 3, 2026, under charge number FHC/OW/45C/2025. The NCC prosecutor, G.O.

Anyalemechi, represented the commission, while S.D. Ndukw represented the defendants.

The court admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N3 million, with conditions including the provision of sureties and execution of a bail bond. The NCC's Director General, Dr.

John Asein, reaffirmed the commission's commitment to combating piracy, which undermines creativity and deprives authors and publishers of their intellectual labor.