NCC Don’t Send Hoodlums For Raid-Zonal Director

The National Copywrite Commission,(NCC) in Anambra State said it  has not authorized or send  any group or individuals  to  raid any market  infringing  musical  copyright.
The Zonal Director of the Commission, Onitsha zone, Emeka Ogbonna, stated this in a reaction to  the claim of a group that they were authorized by the NCC to move into  markets and impound laptops of those who were recording music for people in their handsets.
Ogbonna who is a lawyer said that his Commission has its own staff in the zone   whom  he used to go for drive  anytime they want to embark on  that , saying that he did not at any time send or authorize  anybody to raid any market in the State.
The zonal director however, said that the copyright law allows the stake holders in the industry to embark on  drive against those infringing the law.
Some traders at Upper Iweka said to be recording music for people in their handsets had alleged that a group of people numbering about 20, with two buses stormed  their market and started impounding their laptops and accessories without being accompanied by police or in possession of NCC permit and even  identity cards.
The group was said to have moved into the market with their hoodlums and  started  carting away laptops and its accessories, but fight ensued  between them and traders, when the traders demanded their identity cards and authority papers, which they could not produce.
In the ensuing fight the hoodlums ran away but the traders held one of them who was later picked up by the Police from Awada Police Station in Obosi, Idemili  North Local Government Area of the State.
The chairman of the  traders, Mr. Obinna Madu said they have to resist the hoodlums because they were not accompanied by Police, neither were they in possession of any valid identity card or authorized letter from NCC.
He called on Governor Willie Obiano to come to the rescue of the toiling traders of the state from the hands of the hoodlums who  organized  themselves and  extorted  money from innocent traders, stating that they pay all the necessary dues and levies.
He also commended the Police from Awada Police Station for their timely intervention, without which there would have been unnecessary bloodshed.
The group was however later identified as Musical Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (MPDAN), Iweka Road Onitsha. All efforts to reach the chairman failed but when we contacted the Vice-chairman in his cell-phone, he declined to talk on the ground that he does not know anything about the raid.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Awada, Mr Josiah Bakyu,  confirmed the incident but said he would meet with the group to ascertain  the authenticity of their claims.