By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo of a Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday ordered the remand of four men, Johnson Uche, Olaide Shitu, Kingsley Meteke and Abdulquadri Olayinka charged with producing adulterated engine oil.
Justice Oguntoyibo ordered the men to be remanded in prison pending their arraignment on March 1.
According to the charge preferred against the defendants, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) stated that the defendants and others still at large, on January 2, 2019 at No 2, Esugbayi Street, NPA Quarters, Marine Bridge, Apapa, produced adulterated/substandard engine oil for public consumption.
They allegedly claimed the products to be genuine engine oil and sold them to unsuspecting motorists.
According to SON, the said engine oil did not comply with mandatory industrial standards, an offence which violated Section 26 of the SON Act 2015.
In the second count, the defendants, are said to have on same day and place, “did indulge in dealing in and offering for sale adulterated/substandard engine oil”.
SON stated that the defendants had claimed that the substandard product was genuine, contrary to Section 1 (18) (ii) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act of 2004.
The third count reads: “That you Johnson Uche, Olajide Shitu, Kingsley Meteke, Abdulquadri Olayinka and others now at large, on or about January 2, 2019, while at No 2 Esugbayi Street, NPA quarters, Marine Bridge Apapa Street, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, deal in processed adulterated/substandard engine oil to wit: 128 drums and 9.45 litres of kegs of adulterated/substandard engine oil which is not of quality which you represented it to be and thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 1 (18)(ii) of the Miscellanous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.In count four, they were alleged to have “failed to comply with SON Conformity Assessment Programme” by dealing in adulterated engine oil that did not have the requisite certification.
The alleged offence is punishable under Section 26 of the SON Act of 2015. However,the defendants could not be arraigned because their lawyer was absent.
Prosecuting counsel Adeleke Olofindare, from the Federal Ministry of Justice, prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison.
Justice Oguntoyibo ordered their remand and adjourned until March 1 for arraignment.
