By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has arraigned has arraigned a Kano-based businessman and Chairman of Sabon Gari Patent & Proprietary Medicine Dealers Association Kano, Valentine Duru Ndukwe, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over alleged importation of fake drugs.
Also arraigned alongside the defendant are Bernard Chinweuba, Duru Valentine Chinwike and a limited liability company Vanchris Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited.
The particulars of offence as contained in the charge was read to them as Vanchris Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited located in Kano, Duru Valentine Chinwike, Male, Adult, 30 Years old, of Fountain Estate off Airport Road, Kano State and Valentine Duru Ndukwe (Chairman of Sabon Gari Patent & Proprietary Medicine Dealers Association, Kano), Male, Adult, 58 Years old of No 54, Yoruba Road, Sabon Gari, Kano, on or about the 8th day of September, 2022, at No. 9 Olorogun Street, Idumota, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the court was alleged to have aided one Mr Bernard Chinweuba, Male, Adult, 47 years old, of D330, Sabon Gari Market, Kano/ No 1. Enugu Road, Sabon Gari, Kano, to import fake drugs to wit:- Diclofenac Tablets BP 50mg (Diclosa 50), Coldtime Anti-cold Tablets, Sonidrex Tablets 50mg, Collcap (Chlorepheniramine Maleate Capsules BP 4mg),
After listening to the amended charge which was read to them, they all pleaded not guilty.
In view of their plea, their counsel applied for thier bail.
However, the NAFDAC prosecuting counsel Barrister Barth Simon did not oppose the bail, but he told the court to give conditions that will compel the defendants to attend their trial.
In his ruling for bail the presiding Judge Ayokunle Faji, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N7 million with two sureties each. One of the sureties should be a property owner within the jurisdiction of the Court, and the two sureties must also file their affidavit of means before the court.
Thereafter, Justice Faji adjourned till 27June, 2013 for trial
The two count charge as filed before the court by the NAFDAC prosecutor, Barrister Barth Simon are:
COUNT 1
That you, Vanchris Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited located in Kano, Duru
Valentine Chinwike, Male, Adult, 30 Years old, of Fountain Estate off Airport
Road, Kano State and Valentine Duru Ndukwe (Chairman of Sabon Gari Patent & Proprietary Medicine Dealers Association, Kano), Male, Adult, 58 Years old of No 54, Yoruba Road, Sabon Gari, Kano, on or about the 8th day of September, 2022, at No. 9 Olorogun Street, Idumota, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did aid one Mr Bernard Chinweuba, Male, Adult, 47 years old, of D330, Sabon Gari Market, Kano/ No 1. Enugu Road, Sabon Gari, Kano, to import fake drugs to wit:-
Diclofenac Tablets BP 50mg (Diclosa 50), Coldtime Anti-cold Tablets, Sonidrex
Tablets, 50mg, Collcap (Chlorepheniramine Maleate Capsules BP 4mg), and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(c) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. C34, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 3 of the same Act.
COUNT 2
That you, Bernard Chinweuba, Male, Adult, 47 years old, of D330, Sabon Gari
Market, Kano/ No 1. Enugu Road, Sabon Gari, Kano, on or about the 8th day of September, 22 at No 9 Olorogun Street, Idumota, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, did import unregistered drugs, to wit:
Tablets, Diclofenac Tablets BP 50mg(Diclosa 50) Coldtime Anti-cold Tablets,Sonidex Tablets 50mg , Collcap (Chlorepheniramine Maleate Capsules BP 4mg) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Food, Drugs and Related Products (Registration ETC) Act Cap F33, LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 6 of the same Act.