The Nigerian Copyright Commission Arraigned Emmanuel Analike, CEO of NetNaija

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has arraigned Emmanuel Analike, CEO of NetNaija movies website at the Federal High Court in Abuja on multiple counts of copyright infringement (possession, reproduction, and distribution of pirated movies/music via the site). Analike pleaded not guilty and was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre with bail ruling set for 9 March 2026.

Analike appeared before Justice Suleiman Liman on Wednesday, March 4, after being charged by the NCC. During proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that Analike allegedly engaged in activities related to online piracy. According to the charges, he was accused of possessing infringing copies of creative works, making infringing copies, distributing such works, and making them available to others through digital platforms. The prosecution noted that the alleged offences violate Section 44 (1) (a) of the Copyright Act, 2022. Analike pleaded not guilty with his lawyer, Nnemeka Ejiofor, informing the judge that a bail application had already been filed. 

The arraignment of Analike is another significant move of the NCC against piracy and copyright infringement. Last year, the NCC in association with the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), issued a ban on moviebox.ng, a notorious digital platform that has come under fire for its illegal film and music streaming activities, including popular Nollywood titles. Piracy has had a significant impact on the Nigerian film industry, also known as Nollywood. The industry loses an estimated ₦7.5 billion ($18 million) annually to piracy, affecting around 80% of Nigerian films. This results in reduced revenue, discouraging investors, and limiting job opportunities. Piracy also affects the quality of films, as producers struggle to recoup investments, leading to decreased production budgets. 

In 2024, Nollywood filmmaker, Femi Adebayo won a 3-year legal battle against Murphy Ben International, a media company that illegally streamed his film, Survival of Jelili, on YouTube. A Lagos High Court awarded him ₦25 million in damages for copyright infringement. FilmOne Entertainment, Nigeria’s leading film distribution outfit, arrested a pirate who was alleged to have uploaded clips of one of the company’s films, Owambe Thieves, on TikTok using the moniker NaijaPrey TV and distributed pirated high-resolution digital versions of the film for a fee. The arrest was said to have been made by The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos, following a petition from FilmOne that was filed around August, 2025. These arrests and legal proceedings remind us of the fragile state of Nollywood with the proliferation of piracy and copyright infringement.

The rise of digital platforms has made it easier for pirates to distribute films illegally, with platforms like NetNaija being accused of hosting pirated content. To combat piracy, stakeholders advocate for stricter enforcement of copyright laws, awareness campaigns, and digital solutions.