NetNaija CEO Remanded in Kuje Prison Over Copyright Infringement Charges

Abuja – A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Emmanuel Analike, the Chief Executive Officer of NetNaija Media Enterprises, in Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment on multiple charges related to copyright violations.

Analike faced the court on Wednesday, brought forward by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) on allegations including possession of infringing copies of works, making infringing copies, distributing such works, and providing them to others. These offenses are said to contravene Section 44(1)(a) of the Copyright Act, 2022.

Justice Suleiman Liman ordered the remand pending a ruling on Analike’s bail application, which is scheduled for March 9. The decision came after defense counsel Nnemeka Ejiofor informed the court of the bail motion filed on Monday, supported by a 23-paragraph affidavit and a written address. The judge declined to issue a bench ruling and adjourned the matter accordingly.

Prosecution counsel Gladys Isaac-Ojo, Head of Legal at the NCC, confirmed the case was set for arraignment. Analike pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, Isaac-Ojo expressed enthusiasm over the development. “I am so excited that we were able to get him after all efforts. It is a huge success and something remarkable because of the joy it would bring to the NCC,” she said. “It is a victory on our side, though the case has not started, but the arraignment alone is a victory for us.”

She further noted that Analike’s legal team has the right to seek bail, with the judge to decide. “We’ll be back in court on Monday for ruling on the bail application before proceeding to trial after a given date of trial,” Isaac-Ojo added. Emphasizing the NCC’s approach, she explained: “So just right as our lawsuit, we can charge the person and charge his company when a company is involved in infringement. He committed the act through his company, so that’s why we charged him and his company. The company is NetNaija, an online movie and music download site.“

NetNaija has long been a focal point in Nigeria’s battle against digital piracy. The platform, popular among users for free downloads of movies, music, and other content, has faced criticism for hosting infringing materials that harm creators in the Nollywood industry and beyond. Filmmakers have repeatedly highlighted how sites like NetNaija divert revenue, with one producer noting a film garnered over 40,000 downloads on the site compared to just 10,000 legitimate views on YouTube, severely impacting production viability.

The NCC has intensified efforts against such platforms in recent years. In December 2025, the commission, in collaboration with the Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NiRA), suspended several .ng domains implicated in large-scale piracy, including those streaming unlicensed films and music. This action underscores Nigeria’s annual losses of billions of naira to copyright infringement, as the commission continues to target online violators to protect local and international rights holders.

Analike’s case marks a significant step in the NCC’s crackdown, with Isaac-Ojo highlighting the arrest stemmed from allegations of pirating sound recordings and audiovisual works from both Nigerian and foreign authors.

The trial date will be set following the bail ruling next week, as stakeholders in the creative industry watch closely for potential impacts on anti-piracy enforcement.