YAHAYA IBRAHIM
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered the prisons’ remand of a 43-year-old man, Obumneme Okpala, for allegedly importing fake “KIILIT” insecticide into the country.
The accused was brought before Justice Muslim Sule Hassan, to answer to three counts charge of counterfeiting and importation of fake products preferred against him by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),
In the charge against the businessman, the agency had alleged that the accused committed the offence on October 13, 2017.
According to NAFDAC, the accused allegedly imported fake drug products namely : KILIT ROYAL DREAM INSECTICIDE, contrary to the provisions of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome processed Food Act.
According to the agency, the accused imported the fake products together with its labels, which are unregistered and in clear contravention of the law.
The offences according to the prosecution, offends the provisions of sections 1, 1(1)(a) and 1(1) of the Foods, Drugs and Related Products Registration Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.
But the businessman denied the charge and the NAFDAC prosecutor Mr Shamaki Umar, urged the court to adjourned the matter for trial and prayed that the accused be remanded in prison.
His counsel, Mr Onyeka Ofoegbu, countered the prosecutor and informed the court that the prosecution had not attached its proof of evidence to the charge, adding that it is a compulsory requirement of the law.
He added that he had yet to file a bail application for the accused and would do same soon but urged the court to order the prosecution to do the needful.
In his ruling the judge, Justice Hassan, adjourned the case till November 21 for trial, and ordered the prosecution to file its proof of evidence before that date.
He however, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody, pending the trial date.