Operatives of the Nigerian Police attached to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos has arraigned five persons before an Igbosere Chiefs Magistrate’s Court, for pirating a film titled ‘Malaika’ produced by Toyin Abraham.
The five individuals were also charged with conspiracy, attempt to pervert Justice and intellectual theft.
The five persons charges on the above offences were: Mr. Kehinde Oseni; Mr. Adekunle Segun; Mr. Adebiyi Sodiq; Mr. Oseni S. Akano; Mrs. Agboola Motunrayo and Mrs. Adebiyi Suliat.
The prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, while arraigning all the defendants, told the court that they all conspired among themselves and committed the alleged illegal acts January this year, at Apapa area of Lagos State.
Animashaun further told the court that all the defendants unlawfully stole the film titled “Malaika” which cost over N500 million, via the internet the property of one Toyin Abraham.
The prosecutor told the court that one of the defendants, Mrs. Agboola Saidat Suliat, aided one Oseni Akano, to evade arrest by constantly communicate with him, in a bid to avoid being arrested.
Animashaun told the court that defendants’ actions were in contravention of sections 411; 972; 415 and 87 of the Criminal Law Ch.C17 Vol.3 Laws of Lagos State 2015. And punishable under the saw laws.
Meanwhile, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon their not guilty, the prosecutor urged the court to remand them in the Correctional Center till the determination of the charge.
The defendants’ lawyer, Ganiyu Oyarevuegbe, made an orally application for their bail, and urged the court to admit them to bail in the most liberal terms.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate E. O. Ogunkanmi admitted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N5 million with two responsible sureties in the like sum.
Chief Magistrate Ogunkanmi also ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not from the Ministry of Education. While also ordered that the other surety must be blood relation to the defendants.
The Chief magistrate also ordered that the sureties must have two year tax payments.
The Chief magistrate, while adjourning the matter till February 23, for mention, he ordered that all the defendants be remanded in the NCoS’ custody.
