NAFDAC Cracks Down: Sky Blue Company Owner Charged with Producing Fake Drinks
Chinedu Okafor, a 40-year-old businessman, was arraigned on Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for allegedly producing and distributing counterfeit aromatic Schnapps and fruit juice wines. Okafor, the owner of Sky Blue Company, faces an eight-count charge related to manufacturing, selling, and distributing unwholesome processed food, as well as dealing in and possessing counterfeit products.
Read Also:
According to the prosecution counsel, A. Ali, Okafor was arrested on April 26 at his residence in Badagry, Lagos State, where he was allegedly producing and processing fake Apple Multi Fruit Juice Wine, Eagle Aromatic Schnapps, and Lord’s Gin. The prosecution alleged that Okafor distributed these unwholesome products without registration, in violation of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs Unwholesome Processed Foods Act and the Food and Drugs Act, 2004.
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.
