Broadcasting
Copyright Commission Set for Regulations to Sanitize Book Industry
More regulatory interventions for total compliance with the book chain will soon be introduced for publishers, printers and booksellers in the country.
Dr. John O. Asein, Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), disclosed this during a consultative meeting with the new President of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), Chief Uchenna Cyril Anioke and the immediate past NPA President, Mr. Adedapo Gbadega at the NCC Headqaurters in Abuja recently.
Dr. Asein indicated that the Commission’s interventions were geared at sanitising the book industry by creating an effective regulatory regime for protection and development of the creative industry.
Noting that the national antipiracy campaign could not be worn by Government alone, he reassured that the Commission, in collaboration with all stakeholders, was determined to reduce the scourge of piracy to a single digit.
The Director-General assured of adequate consultations with NPA members and other stakeholders in the publishing industry before the regulatory interventions would be rolled out for the benefit of all. He tasked the NPA that the future of the creative sector in Nigeria could not be guaranteed until all stakeholders were committed to a collective copyright regime for the book sector.
Dr. Asein reiterated NCC’s commitment to synergy with the NPA to ensure that the Association fulfilled its vision of giving clear direction in the book sector by ensuring that quality books were made available to Nigerians to sanitise the sector.
“We can partner to protect the book sector, to ensure there are safe corridors for genuine copyright works and make input to the sustainable development goals”, he stated.
He noted that the Commission’s collaboration with sister Government agencies has paid off, adding that all hands must be on deck to reduce piracy to the barest minimum. He indicated that in the coming year, stakeholders would see more regulatory interventions in the book sector.
The NPA President, Chief Anioke, hinted that the Association would join other stakeholders in lobbying the National Assembly for speedy passage of the Executive Copyright Repeal Bill into law.
He observed that the Commission has become a force to reckon with in the creative industry and commended the DG for NCC’s efforts since his assumption of office. He assured of NPA’s continued support towards boosting the achievement of the Commission’s mandate.
Chief Anioke noted that the new partnership that NCC initiated with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on behalf of publishers was working. He expressed publishers’satisfaction with the Commission’s recent anti-piracy interventions in the publishing industry and copyright protection campaign in schools.
The NPA President assured the NCC of publishers’ adequate support and noted that if the tempo of the Commission’s antipiracy campaign was sustained, pirates would be brought down on their knees. He prayed for God’s guidance for operatives of the Commission because of the herculean task of fighting pirates.
“Pirates are now on their toes. We can win the war against piracy. God will continue guide you and NCC personnel because your mandate is delicate”, he stressed.
Dr. Asein used the opportunity of the NPA executives’ visit to congratulate Nigerians on the nation’s upcoming 61st Independence Anniversary and tasked Nigerian authors and stakeholders in the sector to write and publish more books to showcase Nigerian values and legacies for the next generation.
“Hope Government can rely on the publishing industry to disseminate good values and showcase the legacies of Nigeria as we look forward to a wonderful 61st Independence Anniversary”, he remarked.
Metro Digital Limited, a licenced Indigenous broadcasting organisation, has accused Multichoice, pay television company, of refusing to obey judgements emanating from Courts in Nigeria.
It said the latest of such judgements is the one that was delivered by Justice Chinelo Odili of Rivers State High Court on May 4, 2026 in Suit No. PHC/3943/FHR/2025.
Dr. Paul Osuji, operations manager of Metro Digital, at a press conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,
said the suit was filed by the organisation and two others against Multichoice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Osuji stated that Justice Odili has in the judgement described the arrest of a staff member of the company and the carting away of it’s properties and disruption of it’s broadcasting business by the EFCC over a civil dispute of copyrighy as unlawful and violations of the applicants’ rights.
The manager recalled that in October 2025, Multichoice instigated the EFCC to read their office in Port Harcourt, arrested a staff of the company and staff of another company, while the suit was still pending.
“On October 16, 2025, the premises of Metro Digital Limited, a licenced indigenous broadcasting organisation was raided by the Nigerian anti-graft agency, EFCC, instigated by Multichoice Nigeria, purportedly acting on a preservation order made by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt over the sub licensing of broadcasting content right.
“The preservation order came from a civil dispute already adjudicated by the Court of Appeal No. CA/CS/188/2021 – Multichoice Vs Metro Digital Limited and 20 others, which is a subject of a pending appeal -No. SC/CV/1248/2022 -Multichoice and 20 others before the Supreme Court.
“Instructively, while suit No. PHC/ 3943/ FHR/2025 was still pending, Metro Digital Limited filed an application to set aside the said preservation orders of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Hon. Justice A.T Mohammed.
“In his ruling delivered on December 10, 2025, set aside the preservation orders and it’s legal execution on Metro Digital Limited. The court also ordered EFCC to return unconditionally all the properties and records of Metro Digital Limited, illegally and unlawfully carted away during the raid but the agency has till today not obeyed those orders of the Court,” he said.
Metro Digital Limited is known for operating SLTV, a direct-to-home satellite television service launched to provide affordable, locally-owned alternatives to international pay TV
A Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from sanctioning or punishing broadcast stations and presenters over the expression of personal opinions, alleged bullying of guests, or failure to maintain neutrality on air.
NBC
Justice Daniel Osiagor granted the interim injunction following an ex parte application filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
The court specifically restrained the NBC, its officers, agents and affiliated persons from enforcing its recently issued “Formal Notice” or imposing sanctions, fines or penalties on broadcasters based on provisions of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
SERAP and NGE had approached the court to challenge what they described as an arbitrary and unlawful move by the commission to punish broadcasters for allegedly expressing personal opinions as facts, bullying or intimidating guests, or failing to maintain neutrality during programmes.
The groups also asked the court to determine whether the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code relied upon by NBC were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
The suit followed an April statement by the NBC in which it raised concerns over what it described as increasing violations of the broadcasting code across news, current affairs and political programmes.
The commission had warned that presenters who expressed personal opinions as facts or bullied guests during live broadcasts would be sanctioned.
However, Justice Osiagor, in his ruling, held that pending the hearing of the substantive matter, the commission must refrain from using the formal notice to threaten, sanction or punish broadcast organisations and on-air personalities under the contested code provisions.
The matter was adjourned until June 1, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Metro Digital Limited before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt over alleged cybercrime and unlawful interception and rebroadcast of content belonging to Multichoice Nigeria.
Metro Digital
The company was arraigned before Justice A.T. Mohammed on an amended four-count charge bordering on cybercrime-related offences and alleged illegal rebroadcast of protected broadcast content.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the prosecution counsel, Steve E. Odiase, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment.
However, defence counsel, S.A. Somairi (SAN), reportedly attempted to halt the proceedings by drawing the court’s attention to a pending preliminary objection.
The judge, however, declined the request and ordered that the plea be taken in line with Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which allows a corporation to enter a plea in writing through its representative.
One of the charges alleged that Metro Digital Limited, alongside its Managing Director, Ifeanyi John Nwafor, and a staff member, Ikenna Kanu, both said to be at large, conspired between 2015 and 2019 to unlawfully intercept and rebroadcast protected broadcast signals in Port Harcourt, Rivers.
Another charge alleged that the defendants intentionally and without authorisation intercepted and rebroadcast broadcast signals and devices, including tiger boxes and dongles, over which Multichoice Nigeria holds exclusive rights in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The anti-graft agency said investigations into the matter began in 2019 after Multichoice petitioned the commission, alleging that the illegal rebroadcast of its content caused significant financial losses.
Metro Digital Limited, through its representative, pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel prayed the court to fix a date for trial.
Justice Mohammed subsequently adjourned the case until June 29 and June 30, 2026, for continuation of trial.
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