NAFDAC arraigns businessman for producing fake alcoholic beverage

A businessman, Magnus Onyenkwu, who allegedly produced a fake alcoholic beverage, Alomo Bitters, was on Friday arraigned in Lagos by officials of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Onyenkwu, who resides at No. 27, Toyin St., Oke, Ibadan, Oyo State, is standing trial in Federal High Court, Lagos, on a six-count charge bordering on unlawful production and distribution of unwholesome processed food.

The Prosecutor, Mr Barthlome Simon, told the court that the accused committed the alleged offences sometime in January at his residence.

He said that the accused unlawfully produced, packaged, falsely labelled, distributed and sold to the public a fake replica of Kasapreko Alomo Bitters.

Simon alleged that the offences contravened Sections 1 (a), 5 (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act Cap C34, Laws of the Federation 2004.

The offences are punishable under Sections 3 (1) (a) and 17 of the same Act.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused in prison pending trial.

“In view of the plea of the accused, I urge the court to remand the accused to prison custody pending the trial date,” Simon said.

But the defence counsel, Mr Olusegun Akanbi, urged the court to allow him make an oral application for bail.

But Justice Mohammed Yunusa, in his ruling, said he preferred such an application to be made formally.

He ordered the remand of the accused in prison and adjourned the case to Aug. 20 for hearing on bail application.