The judge fined the defendants N5 million over copy rights infringement.
Justice Hassan while delivering a judgment in suit number FHC/L/CS/42/2007, also asked Otobo and Malthouse Press Ltd to forfeit copyright work, manuscripts and plates used for the publication.
In his ruling the judge said, “an order of injunction is made restraining the defendants whether acting by themselves, their servant or agents or any of them or otherwise, howsoever from infringing the Plaintiff Copyright in the literary work entitled “Government Accounting”.
“An Order is made against the defendants for delivery up and for forfeiture to the Plaintiff’s Copyright work, manuscripts and plates used for the publication.
“An Order of Special damages is awarded against the defendants jointly and severally in the sum of N3 million being 60% of the income that ought to have accrued to the plaintiff in respect of the 5, 000 infringing copies valued at N5 milliion.
“The sum of N2 million naira is awarded as general damages against the defendants jointly and severally for infringing the plaintiff’s copyright in the literary work entitled “Government Accounting”.
“An order is made for the payment of interest on the said judgement sum at the rate of 21 percent per annum until the judgement sum is liquidated,” the judge ruled.
The judgement came sequel to a suit filed by former Permanent Secretary/Auditor General of Local Governments of Lagos State, Mr Mubashiru Hassan, dated 17/04/2007, restraining the defendants, his servant or agents from infringing on the plaintiff’s copyright in the literary work titled, ‘Government Accounting’.
Hassan also sought for special damages of N3 million being 60 percent of the income that ought to have accrued to in respect of the 5000 copies valued at N5million.
and then