Six people arrested for pirating Toyin Abraham’s movie, Malaika

The police recently arraigned six persons before an Igbosere Chiefs Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly pirating Toyin Abraham’s latest movie, ‘Malaika’. 

Police attorneys from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos presented the defendants, Kehinde Oseni, Adekunle Segun, Adebiyi Sodiq, Oseni S. Akano, Mrs. Agboola Motunrayo, and Mrs. Adebiyi Suliat, before Chief Magistrate E. Ogunkanmi.

They were charged with conspiracy, attempts to pervert justice and intellectual property theft.

The prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, told the court that they all conspired and committed the alleged illegal acts this January at Apapa.

Animashaun further told the th him, in a bid to avoid being arrested.

Animashaun told the court that the defendants’ actions were in contravention of sections 411, 972, 415 and 87 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under the saw laws.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

Following their not-guilty plea, Animashaun urged the court to remand them to 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’s  “Malaika”, directed by Steve Olufemi Sodiya was debuted in cinemas on November 22, 2023, starring alongside a star-studded cast, including Ugandan entertainer and comedian Anne Kansiime; Emeka Ike; Odunlade Adekola; Adebayo Ridwan Abidemi (Isbae U); Uzor Arukwe; Oderhohwo Joseph “Carter” Efe; Ibrahim Chatta; Pelumi Olawuni (Abike Shugaa); and veteran actress Taiwo Ajai-Lycett.

By Ezinne Joy Okorie