Broadcasting
NCC, Customs Renew Commitment to Border Enforcement of Copyright
Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.), Comptroller General of Customs (NCS) and Mr. John O. Asein, the Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), have renewed their commitment to inter-agency collaboration to stem the importation of pirated copyright materials into Nigeria.
The heads of the two agencies made this known during a courtesy visit of the Management of the NCC to the Comptroller-General and top management of NCS in Abuja on 20th May 2021.
The chief executives reaffirmed their resolve to strengthening their interagency collaboration under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which the two agencies entered into in 2017 with the main objective of reducing the piracy rate in Nigeria.
To this end, the Comptroller-General of Customs directed that appropriate steps be taken to incorporate the NCC into the Customs Single Window for Trade portal. He also granted the Director-General’s request for the NCC’s clearance certificate to be made a condition for the release of containers containing copyright materials, including books, stationeries and other educational materials.
The Comptroller-General noted the development towards the implementation of the Copyright (Levy on Materials) Order, 2012 and assured the NCC of the full cooperation of the NCS in the implementation of the Order.
Decrying the criminal activities of unscrupulous importers who make false declarations to circumvent customs duty or to import pirated and counterfeit materials, Col. Ali expressed optimism that the NCS would be better equipped to screen more consignments.
Commending the NCC for its commitment to its enforcement mandate, Col. Ali expressed satisfaction with the partnership between the two agencies. “We must do our jobs well and work together to reduce piracy to its barest minimum”, he stressed.
Both agencies agreed to set up a Joint Task Force (JTF) to embark on regular antipiracy operations in order to intensify the national antipiracy campaign and bring the rate of piracy in Nigeria to a single digit.
Earlier, the Director-General, NCC, Mr. Asein, commended the NCS for being faithful to the implementation of the inter-agency MOU and for the immense support it has received in executing the national anti-piracy campaign.
“This collaboration has paid off as evidenced by the recent seizure of four (4) containers containing pirated books. The two containers that were publicly displayed on 11 May, 2021 had 80,882 copies of pirated school books worth over N80m. Another two containers are due for release in the next few days”, he stated.
He reiterated the appreciation of the NCC and stakeholders in the creative industries for the immense support that the Commission has received over the years in its efforts to stem cross border piracy of copyright works.
In his words: “Publishers are overwhelmed and immensely grateful to the Comptroller-General, the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service for their vigilance, gallantry and commitment to duty.” He gave special commendation to the officers of NCS at Tincan Command.
The Comptroller-General stated that for effective inter-agency collaboration, both agencies would implement capacity building trainings to upscale the competence of their operatives, especially in enforcing border measures.
The Comptroller-General and the Director-General exchanged branded corporate gifts as demonstration of the mutually beneficial collaboration between the two enforcement agencies.
MultiChoice Nigeria has slashed the price of its DStv decoder from N20,000 to N10,000, representing a 50 percent drop, in a aim at attracting attract more customers and curb declining subscriptions.
The campaign, titled “We’ve Got You,” was launched on June 16 and will continue until July 31.
Also, as part of its efforts to ease economic pressure on households and improve access to digital TV services, the campaign offers a free upgrade for both active and returning customers.
Speaking on the campaign, John Ugbe, chief executive officer (CEO) of MultiChoice Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to rewarding loyalty and enhancing daily viewing experiences.
“We want to ensure our customers feel appreciated and have access to the best entertainment every day,” Ugbe said.
“The ‘We’veGot You’ campaign is about making premium content more accessible and showing that DStv offers something for everyone, not just football fans.
“By repositioning itself as a platform for daily value, DStv aims to encourage content discovery across a wider array of genres, including movies, drama, kids’ programming, and news.
“This means more channels, more shows, and more reasons to tune in every day.”
The development comes amid MultiChoice Nigeria’s legal battle with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over price hike.
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will, on Oct. 7, arraigned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways, Mr Temi Birdzell, alongside the company and its top officers, over allegations bordering on breach of FCCPC Act, 2018.
The defendants will be arraigned before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Others to be arraigned with Birdzell are Stella Ihediwa, the Account Manager of the airline; Kennedy Chirchir, the Country Manager and Eva Ojeje, who is the Sales Manager of the company.
Although the arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday, the matter could not proceed.
Upon resumed hearing, none of the defendants was in court.
When the matter was called on Tuesday, none of the defendants was in court due to improper service of the court documents, including the hearing notice, on them.
FCCPC.’s lawyer, Chizenum Nsitem, told the court of their inability to serve four of the defendants, although the company was served.
Nsitem then sought an adjournment to enable them do the needful and the judge adjourned the matter until Oct. 7 for the defendants to take their plea.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/200/2025, dragged Qatar Airways, Birdzell, Ihediwa, Chirchir and Ojeje to court as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
FCCPC, in the application dated May 26 but filed May 27, had preferred a two-count charge against the defendants.
The defendants were alleged to have failed to appear before FCCPC in compliance with a lawful summons of the commission dated Sept. 6, 2024, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33 (3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (FCCPC) Act, 2018.
They were also accused to have on Sept. 18, 2024, intentionally withheld the production of documents in compliance wth a lawful summons of the commission, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 111 of FCCP Act, 2018.
In count three, they were alleged to have on Sept. 18, 2024, engaged in the contravention of the consumer rights, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 124(1) and punishable under Section 155 of the same Act.
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is set to arraign John Ugbe, chief executive officer, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and other executives of the firm for impeding its investigation and failing to comply with lawful summons.
This is according to a charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/197/2025, filed by the FCCPC legal team led by Barrister Nsitem Chizenum.
This follows a May 8, 2025 ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja which dismissed MultiChoice Nigeria Limited’s suit seeking to uphold its DStv and GOtv price increases in Nigeria.
In the charge sheet, where John Ugbe, Gozie Onumonu, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, and five others were named as defendants, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited was accused of failing without sufficient cause to appear before the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on 6th March, 2025, in compliance with summons dated 25th February, 2025.
The Commission described the development as an offence against the FCCPC Act.
The Commission alleged that Adewunmi Ogunsanya, John Ugbe, and others, “being Directors of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited on or about the 6th day of March, 2025, at 23 Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, caused the aforesaid MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to fail to produce documents which the Company was required to produce, in compliance with a lawful summons issued and dated 25 February, 2025, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of the FCCPC Act 2018″.
The CEO and the Pay TV directors were further alleged to have caused MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to impede the investigation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission by refusing to produce documents.
When the court resumed sitting on Tuesday, the FCCPC lawyer informed Justice James Omotosho that aside from MultiChoice, the defendants are yet to be personally served with the charge.
In view of that, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to October 7, 2025 for arraignment.
Recall that Justice Omotoso had dismissed a suit filed by MultiChoice Nigeria against the FCCPC.
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