Emmanuel Analike, CEO of NetNaija Media Enterprises, was arraigned on March 5th over charges of alleged copyright infringement by the NetNaija service that occurred between 2023 and 2025; filed by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) under Nigeria’s Copyright Act of 2022.
After pleading not guilty, the Court then sent Mr. Analike to the Kuje Correctional Centre where he will await a determination as to whether he can be freed on bail. That decision was expected on March 9 but no further news has been forthcoming.
The NCC’s four-count charge contends that NetNajia produced more than 1,400 infringing copies of copyrighted works for non-private use and making them available to the public without consent of the rights-holders.
Piracy Monitor will provide updates as they unfold.
Why it matters
According to local reporting by The Guardian of Nigeria, “Dr. John O. Asein, Director-General of the NCC, described the case as a significant step in the Commission’s campaign against online piracy and digital copyright infringement, emphasizing the importance of protecting the rights of creators and investors in the industry.”
Note: Original copies of the Charges are only made available upon submission of a formal request to the Court.
Further reading
Abuja court remands NetNaija CEO over copyright infringement allegations. Article. March 15. 2026. by Elijah Oyeyemi. AmXAfrica (Nigeria)
Court remands online piracy suspect at Kuje Correctional Centre. Article. March 8, 2026. by David Meshioye. The Guardian (Nigeria)
