Piracy has taken over Nollywood’s marketing system – Director, Gabe Okoye

7 years ago

Piracy has taken over Nollywood’s marketing system – Director, Gabe Okoye

Nollywood director, Gabe Okoye, has lamented the spate of piracy that has eaten deep into the industry.

He called on the Federal Government, FG, to continue in the fight against piracy even as he lauded the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, in his effort to curb the menace.

Okoye recalled how a popular movie pirate in Lagos state, Emmanuel Eze Obasi was recently nabbed through the combined effort of the Information Minister, Inspector General of Police, IGP, and the Commissioner of Police, CP.

The director, known for his movie, ‘Nneka The Pretty Serpent’ in a chat with Encomium expressed shock at how much these pirates have crumbled the industry.

He said, “The movie pirate, Emmanuel Eze Obasi, was arrested in Lagos state with the help of the minister.

“The boy was taken to Copyright Commission and was moved to Area E Police Command where he was locked up.

“Upon interrogation, he revealed names of others that are involved in the piracy business, stressing that he’s not the only one and that there are big names that are bigger than him. He mentioned the likes of Ogbona Nwaete and John Abah.

“He gave us their shop addresses and when we got there, we were surprised at the type of machines they used to pirate our movies.

“They have all kinds of weapons and they don’t care who you are. The last time I went there, they matcheted one of the policemen that came with me to raid the market and the policeman was so traumatized.

“So, I decided to lay ambush outside the market and luckily he was going to cargo goods for someone in Benin. That was how we got him arrested at Ohonba Line’s park and handed him over to the Ojo police station.

“That same day, they wanted to grant him bail. I asked them why, they said their boss gave an order that no culprit should be in cell for more than 24 hours. So, we contacted the Copyright Commission and we handed him over to Copyright Commission and later we contacted industry people.”

Speaking on the steps to curb piracy following complaints from producers and marketers, the director further noted: “Piracy, you know, had been there for long and Nollywood came up and was not structured and they inherited the marketing system which was created by pirates.

“The pirates are using the current marketing system to distribute their wares across the federation. So, some of these marketers are the originators of Nollywood, and they started by pirating Indian, Chinese and American films.

So, when we created Nollywood, they joined.

“So, when you are talking of curbing piracy, it’s like stopping marketing and creating an alternative marketing.

“Actors and actresses, some of them have retired because of piracy; most independent producers have stopped because of piracy,” the movie director lamented.