22nd October, 2017
Akin Kuponiyi
A Federal high court sitting in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria has adjourned till January next year to decide either three men standing trial before the court for allegedly producing fake Glucophage have case to answer or not.
The four defendants, Obum Bonaventure, Obiora Okika, Ekene Udenwoke and Eze Igwe were originally arraigned before the court for possession, faking, producing substandard Glucophage and dealing in same by way of sale and distributing it, a NAFDAC registered drug by Biofem Pharmaceutical Limited.
In the course of trial, Eze Igwe jumped bail and since he could not be located the charge was struck out against him accordingly, thereby leaving the three defendants.
During the trial the prosecutor called six witnesses .
The defendants opted to make “A No Case Submission.
In a four count criminal charge filed before the court, it was alleged that Obum Bonaventure of 11 Onikoyi street, Idumota Lagos State, Obiora Okika Ekene Udenwoke of 6/8 Church street, Idumota Lagos State, Eze Igwe of 71, Agedokene Street Idumota, Lagos, Bontex Pharmaceutical Company limited, Skob Global investment limited and one other at large on or about 15th May, 2009, possessed counterfeit, adulterated, fake and substandard drugs to wit Glucophage Tablets whose original belongs to Biofem Pharmaceutical (Nigeria) limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(a) of the counterfeit and fake Drugs and unwholesome Processed Food Act C34,Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Punishable under section 3(1)(a) of the same Act.