The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded the Chief Executive Officer of NetNaija Media Enterprises, Emmanuel Analike, in the Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged copyright infringement.
Justice Suleiman Liman ordered the remand after the defendant’s counsel, Nnemeka Ejiofor, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on behalf of his client.
The application, according to Ejiofor, was submitted on Monday and supported by a 23-paragraph affidavit alongside a written address.
Ejiofor proceeded to argue the bail application before the court, noting that it was brought within 48 hours of Analike’s arraignment.
When the charges were read in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
The four-count charge filed against Analike includes allegations of possessing infringing copies of copyrighted works, making unauthorized copies of such works, distributing the infringing materials, and making the copies available to members of the public.
Isaac-Ojo, however, acknowledged that the defendant’s legal team was within its rights to apply for bail, adding that the court would ultimately decide whether the request should be granted.
Recall that in 2023, Netnajia had announced it would discontinue its services to the public.
In a statement on its website, the platform said it would now be focusing on other sections of its services.
The statement explained that it started as a personal hobby, then grew to a group archive, and then achieved enormous popularity, turning it into a fan favourite.
NetNaija is an online platform for the latest movies, entertainment gossip, music, breaking news, and more. The website was founded in March, 2009.
The platform started out as proudlyboiz, changed to NetNaija.com and changed to TheNetNaija.