Seizures valued at over N5.3milllion confiscated products during enforcement by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have been disposed off in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The items comprise of CDs, DVDs, decoders, flat screen and box television, stablizers, standing fans, cables, among several others.
The seizures were officially handed over to Sosocare Re-cycling outfit, who are expected to decouple and smash the items, and use the proceeds from it to offer healthy insurance for the vulnerable people in the society.
Speaking to journalists during the handover of sezures to Sosocare, the Acting Director of NCC, Mrs Nkechi Okechukwu Ezinma said the idea of partnering with Sosocare is to ensure that these pirated materials do not get back to the society through the backdoor.
She said Sosocare being a recycling Company will smash the seizures and use them to produce other things for the society.
According to her, NCC stopped burning or destroying its seizures or exhibits when there were complaints of environmental pollution and opted for the recycling alternative through its partnership with Sosocare.
She said NCC, as a Federal Governnment Enforcement Agency, saddled with the responsibility of administration, control and enforcement of Copyright laws, ensures that people do not infringe on people’s intellectual property rights.
According to her, when they carry out surveillance and enforcement, seizures are made and if suspects are arrested they prosecute them at the High Courts.
Asked why there was no arrest during the seizure of about N5.3m worth of goods, she said most times the culprits are at large and at times her men experience attacks during enforcements and normally when that happens they retreat for re-enforcement.
“Since they have seized some items used in the ignoble trade of piracy they hold unto that,” she explained.
The disposal, therefore marks the end of matters surrounding the items.
“We are partnering with Sosocare. They are experts in recycling. The idea is to ensure that these items don’t get back to the society. There were no arrests because sometimes when we do enforcement, the suspects could be at large and at times there could also be an atttack or resistance, but we must make seizures. Since there were no arrests, we cannot prosecute anybody,” the Ag Director said.
Mrs Ezinma further said that apart from recycling, Sosocare uses the proceeds realised from the seizures to organize health insurance for the poor in the society, in line with the directive of the Director General of NCC.
In an interview with Sosocare Representative, Mr Kelvin Ogbonna, he said their collaboration with NCC is to ensure that piracy is eradicated in the country.
According to him, Sosocare stands for cleaner environment and healthcare services for the vulnerable in the society.
He reiterated the fact that they will smash the seizures, thereby making sure that they do not go back to the society again.
