By Emeka Okafor
A trader in Akwa-Ibom State, Chinonso Ugochukwu has been sentenced to one year imprisonment for pirating the Holy Bible and other literary works.
The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, the state capital, and presided over by Justice F.O. Roman, handed down the sentence.
Ugochukwu was found guilty on two-count charge, bordering “on pirating, being in possession and offering for sale 578 copies of various literary works, including the Holy Bible (Standard version).”
Martins Umoh, a staff of Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) and a witness in the matter told the court that NCC received complaints from copyright owners, including The Bible Society of Nigeria, alleging that their literary works were being pirated.
ALSO READ: Pioneer Managing Director Of NNPC, Festus Marinho, Passes On, GMD Kyari Mourns
He said as a result, the commission embarked on search in several local government areas of the state, and that it was during the search that several copies of pirated literary works were found in Ugochukwu’s shop located at 17 Grace Bill Road, Eket, in Akwa Ibom State.
Also testifying during the trial, a staff of the Bible Society of Nigeria, Oluwafemi Akindele told the court that his office translates the Holy Bible, typesets it and sources for funds to publish it.
The witness said they observed that while the products were everywhere in the market, it never reflected in its official Bible distribution figures.
