By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Two traders operating at the Balogun Market Idumota, Lagos, Ike Afam and Onyechi Izuchukwu were on Wednesday arraigned by a quality assessment agency of the Federal Government, the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) for conspiring among themselves to counterfeit and repackage X-pression hair attachment {Rich Braid) .
The duo of Ike Afam and Onyechi Izuchukwu were arraigned before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on a five count charge of conspiracy, counterfeiting and repackaging of X-pression hair attachment {Rich Braid) knowing same to be false and misleading.
According to the charge, the defendants were also alleged to have dealt in manufactured product to wit: X-presssion hair attachment (Fach Braid) which is not of the nature expected of the product and did apply false trademark to X-pression hair attachment (Rich Braid) calculated to deceive the general public that they are genuine X-pression hair attachment
The offence according to the charge is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, cap C39 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Furthermore, the offence according to the charge is also said to be punishable under Section 1(18)}(a\() of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
After listening to the five counts charge preferred against them, both defendants pleaded not guilty to the five counts.
The prosecutor, Mr Yusuf Lawan asked the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendants in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service.
Meanwhile, due to submissions of counsel to both defendants, Mr E. E. Okoli, the trial judge,Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter till Thursday March 21 for the hearing and determination of the defendants’ bail application.
The charge against the two defendants reads: That you Ike Afam and Onyechi Izuchukwu Steve, both male and adults, on or about 24 December 2022 at Balogun Market, Idumota within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire among yourselves to counterfeited and repackaged X-pression hair attachment {Rich Braid) knowing same to be false and misleading and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, cap C39 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
COUNT 2
That you ike Afam and Onyechi Izuchukwu Steve, both male and adults on or about 24 December 2022 at Balogun market, Idumota within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did deal in manufactured product to wit: X-presssion hair attachment (Fach Braid) which is not of the nature expected of the product and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(18)}(a\() of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
COUNT 3
That you Ike Afam and Onyechi Izuchukwu Steve, both male and adults on or about 24 December 2022 at Balogun market, Idumota within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did apply false trademark for X-pression hair attachment (Rich Braid) calculated to deceive that they are genuine X-pression hair attachment and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(1)(b) of the Merchandise Marks Act, Cap M10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 3(3) of the same law.
COUNT 4
That you Ike Afam and Onyechi lzuchukwu Steve, both male and adults on or about 24 December 2022 at Balogun market, Idumota within the jurisdiction of this honourable court have in your possession X-pression hair attachment for sale to which a forged trademark of X-pression hair is applied and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(2) of the Merchandise Marks Act, cap M10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 3(3) of the same law.
COUNT 5
That you Ike Afam and Onyechi Izuchukwu Steve, both male and adults on or about 24 December 2022 at Balogun market, Idumota within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did package X-pression hair attachment (Rich Braid) in a manner that is misleading or likely to create a wrong impression as to its character and composition and thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 1(1}{a) of the Trade Malpractices (Miscellaneous Offences) Act, Cap T12 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(1}(h) of the same law.