Netnaija Faces Copyright Trial in Abuja

According to TechInNaija, The Nigerian Copyright Commission is prosecuting Netnaija Media Enterprises and its representative, Emmanuel Analike, for alleged copyright violations. The trial began on October 12, 2026, with the Commission’s first witness called to the stand.

The case involves 1,458 allegedly infringing copies of music and audiovisual content, covering the period from 2023 to July 2025. The charges are brought under the Copyright Act 2022, specifically Section 44(1)(a). The next hearing is scheduled for November 23, 2026.

The Nigerian Copyright Commission, not the Nigerian Communications Commission, is handling this case. The confusion arises from the shared initials of the two agencies. The Commission initiated its investigation following multiple complaints from both Nigerian and international copyright holders regarding the Netnaija website.

This case marks a significant enforcement action by the Nigerian Copyright Commission, treating the operation of a download website as a prosecutable offense rather than just a complaint. Ijeoma Egbunike, the Commission’s director of public affairs, has highlighted this case as one of the agency’s key ongoing enforcement priorities.

The defense attempted to delay the proceedings by filing a preliminary objection on October 9, 2026, which the court dismissed as not yet ripe for hearing. The trial continues with the investigating officer providing evidence, and the next hearing is set for November 23, 2026.