28th October, 2010
A Lagos businessman, John Okechukwu, is to spend the next six months behind the bars for manufacturing fake products or in the alternative, he is to pay N100,000 fine.
According to the Mohammed Baba, prosecuting counsel to National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), while reviewing the fact of the case, the journey to the prison of the convict started some time in May 2008, when NAFDAC operatives, based on a tip off, raided his office at 39, Church Street, Idumota, Lagos and found in his possession, five unregistered cartons of unwholesome Seaman Schnapps.
The offence committed by the convict is contrary to section 1(1) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Food Miscellaneous Provision Act of 1999 and punishable under Section 3 of same Act.
Initially, when the convict was arraigned before a Federal High Court, he pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty.
His counsel, Chijioke Nlebdan, urged the court to temper justice with mercy as the convict was a first offender and has shown remorse.
In his judgment, Justice Okon Abang sentenced the accused to six months each on the two-count criminal charge. The sentences are to run concurrently or in the alternative, to pay N100,000 fine.
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