Brothers Across Nigeria (the Buccaneers Confraternity) has warned members of the public against the unauthorised use of its brand name, paraphernalia, and logos.
At a press conference held at the national headquarters of the organization in Lagos, the group’s Global President (also known as Grand Eye BAN), Mr. Azubuike Onowu, issued a cease-and-desist notice to all mimics and fake groups using BAN’s logo and name.
According to him, “For a long time, all manner of unauthorized people have been using the group’s name and paraphernalia, oftentimes behaving in ways at odds with our brand identity and all that we represent. In a recent distressing viral video, miscreants wearing regalia that has our logo on it gruesomely decapitated an animal (ostensibly a dog) in what appears to be some form of ritualistic sacrifice. This can never be BAN or it way of life or operation.”
The Grand Eye noted that: “Buccaneers Confraternity is a global association registered in Nigeria and in several countries across the globe. We respect the rule of law and uphold all humans and animals, the right to be treated with respect as an individual with inherent value.”
Consequently, the group’s leader warned non-members to cease and desist from using the group’s name in perpetrating crime, atrocities, and violence. “This includes content creators who misrepresent the confraternity to drive traffic while at times, using the misrepresented content to mislead or defraud members of the public,” Onowu stated at the conference.
The cease-and-desist notice was also issued to former/disembarked members who fraudulently misrepresent the brand, and, at times, deceive unsuspecting members of the public who genuinely want to join the brotherhood.
The BAN global leader said:“With this cease-and-desist notice, our legal team has been instructed to commence legal action against any imposter or unauthorised user of Buccaneers Confraternity (BC)or Brothers Across Nigeria (BAN) brand collateral. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that this constant defamation and abuse of our brand is put to an end.”
The Buccaneers Confraternity was established in 1972 at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, and has since undergone several iterations, and has grown into an international organisation, operating across Africa, Asia, North and South America and Western Europe. The group remains resolutely focused on its avowed ideals of equity, non discrimination, and service to humanity.
