The law has caught up with a 38-year-old trader, Emeka Obi, who allegedly is into the business of importing fake products into the country, as the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) arraigned him before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Obi, who transacts his alleged illegal business at Shop D55, Oyo Plaza, in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, was said to have imported a 40-feet container of substandard Betasol Lotion and Funbeaut – a triple action complexion soap which is unfit for human use.
He was said to have concealed the products with his personal effects in the groupage container, which was brought in through the SDV/SCOA terminal, KLT Lagos.
According to the prosecutor, Umar Shamaki, the accused committed the offence on August 1, 2014, adding that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 1 of the Food, Drugs and Related Products Act, Cap F33, Laws of the Federation, 2004. The offence also contravenes the provisions of section 1(a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs, and Unwholesome Processed Food, (Miscellaneous provisions) Act, 2004.
After hearing the two-count charge against him, Obi pleaded not guilty, and the trial judge, Justice Aneke, ordered him to be remanded in Ikoyi prisons pending the hearing of his bail application and commencement of trial on December 5.
