The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, on Friday, arraigned a 40-year-old businessman, Chinedu Okafor, before the Federal High Court in Lagos, for allegedly producing fake aromatic Schnapps and fruit juice wines.
Okafor, whose firm’s name is ‘Sky Blue Company’ is facing an eight-count charge bordering on manufacturing, dealing, selling distributing, and having unwholesome processed food.
The prosecution counsel, A. Ali, told the court that Okafor was arrested on April 26, at his residence of 4, 1st MTN Road, Badagry, in Lagos State, where he was allegedly producing and processing Apple Multi Fruit Juice Wine, Eagle Aromatic Schnapps and Lord’s Gin.
Ali told the court that Okafor, allegedly distributed unwholesome processed food of Apple Multifruit Juice Wine, Eagle Aromatic Schnapps and Lord’s Gin. Okafor was also accused of distributing processed food Apple Multifruit Juice Wine, Eagle Aromatic Schnapps and Lord’s Gin, without registration.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are contrary to Section 1(c) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs Unwholesome Processed Foods Act and punishable under Section 3, 1(1) and 1(3), 17, (1) of the Food and Drugs Act, 2004.
The defendant, who was not represented by any lawyer, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following his plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and also urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional centre till the determination of the charges.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa asked that the defendant be remanded at the correctional centre, and adjourned the matter to July 10, 2024, for the commencement of trial.