Distributor of Kunle Afolayan’s award winning film, “The Figurine” (Araromire), Hi-Buzz Limited (Highway Distribution), has stepped up action to protect the movie from the menace of piracy with its recent raid of shops in the notorious Alaba International Market, Lagos.

The raid was done in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC. Last month, Hi-Buzz Limited (Highway Distribution) sent a petition to the Lagos Office of the Copyright Commission with respect to the pirating of “The Figurine.”

Another petition also came from Sun-Tab Film Nigeria Limited in respect of its film, Eti Keta already being pirated and sold in some shops at Alaba market, which is known to be the hub of piracy activities in the West African sub region.  The pirated and original copies of the said work were sent alongside the petition, according to the commission.

Figurine cover

The officials of the commission swung into action and carried out long hours of surveillance followed by a test purchase of the said work to confirm the actual shops where the sales were being made. Subsequently, On Wednesday, February 10, 2012, the NCC Lagos Office conducted an anti-piracy raid on the said shops at Alaba Market.

In all, about 11 shops were raided and exhibits impounded. Investigations is still on-going, inventory been done and all machineries put in place to apprehend the  owners of the affected shops  in case they show up to lay claims to the impounded copies.

The rights owners have vowed to continue with the action until the pirated copies of their works are confiscated.  A statement by Hi-Buzz reiterated its resolve to ensuring that the infringers are brought to book. The  distribution company also thanked the NCC for being proactive in this issue.

“For us at Hi-Buzz, we are committed to protecting the works we distribute because that is the gain of someone’s labour and it is also business for us too, so in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, we will hunt and arrest any infringer of “The Figurine” anywhere in the country, wherever he is hiding to carry out the nefarious activity.”

Meanwhile, the Alaba market association is  currently working with  the distributor of the film as well as the regulatory body in ensuring that the culprits are arrested and brought to book.

“The Alaba market association is very cooperative and they are equally miffed that such illegal act is going on in the market after they have assured government of their cooperation in the fight against piracy. The owners of the shops are on the run but the association’s executive has assured the distributor that they will assist the police in apprehending the suspects.”

Sadly, the pirating of Afolayan’s “The Figurine” only re-echoed similar experience that befell ace film maker, Tunde Kelani few years ago(2010) when his film, “Arugba” was pirated,  a week after it was released into the market.