Seven persons accused of practicing advertising illegally have been handed over to the police for questioning. This was disclosed by Ralph Anyacho, Head, Planning, Research, Corporate Affairs & Strategy at the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

Anyacho said in a statement, a copy of which was made available to News Express that APCON commenced the arrest and prosecution of offenders after several sensitisation visits to advertising establishments and warning notices to illegal persons in advertising practice.

“The crackdown on illegal practice which resumed last week took the enforcement team of APCON to advertising agencies and media organisations identified as employing unlicensed persons. The offenders have been invited for questioning by the police,” Anyacho said.

He listed some of the illegal advertising persons being quizzed by the police to include Mr. Manomahan Chandroth, Product Manager, Samsung; Mr. Kayode Adunmadeyin, Marketing Manager, Radio Lagos; Omololu Omigbule, Commercial Manager, Top Radio; and Yemi Egbebiyi, Head of Client Service, Blue Seal Communication.

Others, according to Anyacho, include Fifemayo Aiyesimaju, Strategy and Business Executive of DDB, Lagos; Akinola Salu, Marketing Manager of Multi-Choice Nigeria; and Kholeka Maringa, Head, DSTV Media Sales.

Anyacho explained that “police investigation is the first step in the process of prosecution of illegal advertising persons,” adding: “Act 55 of 1988, empowers APCON to arrest and prosecute persons not registered by it to practice advertising in Nigeria.”

•Photo shows APCON Registrar, Alhaji Bello Kankarofi.