Business
Court adjourns arraignment of MTN MD, Toriola, others over copyright infringement till May 14
The others are MTN Senior Executive Officer, Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd, a telecommunications service provider; and Yahaya Maibe, its CEO.
The matter, which was fixed for the suspects to take their plea could not go on shortly after the case was called due to the absence of Toriola and Abhulimen in court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) equally observed that Toriola and Abhulimen were not represented in court by counsel. However, while MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd was represented by Obafemi Ajaba, Fun Mobile and Maibe were represented by Abdullateef Afolabi.
Abdul Kohol, a lawyer and former acting Director-General of NCC, together with Zino Ugboma, said they were in court to watch brief for the nominal complainant, Maleke Moye, who was also in court.
READ ALSO: Court stops MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile from deactivating subscribers’ lines over NIN
NCC had in a charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024, sued MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd, Toriola, Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd and Maibe as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
In the three count-count charge dated March 19 and filed March 20 by Emeka Ogbonna on NCC’s behalf, the prosecution alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017, “offered for sale, sold and traded for business, infringed musical works of Maleke Moye, an artiste, without his consent and authorisation.”
The commission alleged that the defendants used Maleke’s musical works and sound recordings with subsisting copyright, known as “caller ring back tunes” without the authorisation of the artiste.
The musical works and sound recordings of the musician allegedly infringed upon include “911, Minimini-Wana Wana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.”
The defendants were also alleged to have illegally distributed the musical works to their subscribers, without authorisation, thereby infringing on the rights of the artiste.
In the third count, the defendants were alleged of having in their possession, the musical works and sound recordings of the artiste, other than for their personal or domestic use.
The copyright commission said the alleged offence is punishable under Section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the matter was called on Monday, Toriola and Abhulimen were neither in court nor represented by a lawyer.
Ogbonna, who appeared for the prosecution, told the court that the matter was supposed to be for the arraignment of the defendants.
The lawyer, who informed the court that the commission had investigated them, said most of them were already on administrative bail.
He said though the expectation was that all of them would be in court today, Ogbonna however sought an adjournment to enable them do the needful
“If they don’t come willingly, we know what to do to bring them before the court,” he said.
Ajaba, who appeared for the 1st defendant (MTN), however, told the court that only the company was served the court documents as far as they knew.
The lawyer said that they had filed a motion on notice on April 26, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to proceed on the matter as presently constituted.
Ajaba said the firm sought an order striking out the charge for beng incurably defective and incapable of activating the jurisdiction of the court.
Giving two grounds, he said the 1st defendant was not a juristic person, and therefore robbed the court the requisite jurisdiction to entertain any proceeding with respect to the applicant.
Besides, the lawyer argued that the signature on the charge herein being the originating process in the criminal action cannot be traced or ascribed to any legal practitioner authorised to practice law in Nigeria contrary to the clear statement of the law as enunciated by the Supreme Court.
But Justice Ekwo rhetorically asked Ajaba if he had studied the provision of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in respect of raising objection.
The judge, who said that the prosecution had already applied for a date for plea, adjourned the matter until May 14 for arraignment.
-
Politics3 days ago
$35M Atlantic Refinery Project: Sunny Goli Commend Tinubu, EFCC over Diligent Prosecution
-
Politics3 days ago
Alleged N101.4 Billion Fraud: Court Orders Service of Hearing Notice on Yahaya Bello
-
Politics3 days ago
Confusion As Court Adjourns Appeals On Rivers State Political Crisis, Orders PDP To Clarify Legal Representation
-
Politics3 days ago
Edo State Govt Bans Activities Of Drivers On Wheels And Road Transport Employees Association Of Nigeria (RTEAN).
-
News3 days ago
KAI demolishes 138 Shanties, dislodges 169 illegal residents in Lagos
-
Niger Delta6 days ago
PAP Has Been Beneficial But Budget Increment Is Long Overdue—Ex- Agitator
-
Politics6 days ago
Appeal Court President Sets Up Special Panel to Address Rivers State Political Crisis
-
News3 days ago
Police Cracks Down Criminal Syndicates, Apprehend 82 suspects in Kano