The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned six suspects before the Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court over alleged piracy of actress Toyin Abraham’s movie, ‘Malaika’.
‘Malaika’ was premiered in Lagos on December 17, 2023, and made its theatrical debut on December 22, 2023.
Police attorneys from the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force CID, Alagbon, in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday presented the defendants, Adekunle Segun, Kehinde Oseni, Adebiyi Sodiq, Oseni S. Akano, Adebiyi Suliat and Agboola Motunrayo before Chief Magistrate E. Ogunkanmi.
They were charged with conspiracy, stealing of intellectual property, piracy and cyber-related crimes.
The prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, informed the court that the suspects planned and carried out the alleged illegal act in January 2024 at Apapa in the state.
He stated further that the defendants violated sections 411, 972, 415, and 87 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their not guilty plea, Animashaun urged the court to remand them in the Correctional Center till the determination of the charge.
But their lawyer, Ganiyu Oyarevuegbe, made an oral application for their bail in the most liberal terms.
Ruling on their applications, Chief Magistrate Ogunkanmi admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N5million each with two responsible sureties in the like sum.
The Chief Magistrate ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant but not from the Ministry of Education.
The court also ordered that the other surety must be a relation to the defendants.
The Chief Magistrate also ordered that the sureties must have two year tax payments.
He adjourned the matter till February 23, for mention while ordering that all the defendants be taken to the NCoS’ custody pending the perfection of their bail.
Toyin Abraham recently disclosed that she experienced panic attacks and was hospitalised after finding out about the piracy of her new movie.
