Bizman Lands In Prison For Forging Min. Of Industry’s Documents, Trademark Theft

A Federal High Court, Lagos, today, remanded in prison custody, a businessman, Robinson Ojukwu for allegedly forged acceptance forms belonging to Federal Ministry of Industry, Trades and Investment.

Justice Saliu Saidu, made the remand order of the businessman, after he pleaded not guilty to the 11 counts charges of conspiracy, forgery, alterations and trademark theft made against him by the men of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (ForceCIID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.

The police in the charge marked FHC/L/166c/2019, alleged that the businessman, his company, Ronik Multitrade Limited and others now at large, between 2014 and 2018, at National Agency for Good and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), located at 3/5 Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, conspired among themselves to commit the act.

In particular, the prosecutor, Mr. B. O. Asogwa, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), told the court that the businessman and others at large, forged Acceptance Forms with Numbers NG/T/2014/2197; NG/T/2016/748; NG/T/2016/5715; on July 14, 2014, February 26, 2016 and July 26, 2016, claiming that they were issued by the Commercial Laws Department of Federal Ministry Industry, Trade and Investment.

ACP Asogwa also told the court that the defendant used the said forged Acceptance Forms to registered Village Fresh Soap’s trademark in the name of Ronik Multitrade limited with NAFDAC.

The offences, the prosecutor, ACP Asogwa told the court contradict section 516, 467, 468 of the Criminal Code Act. Cap. C 38 of the Laws of the Federation, 2004, and punishable under Section 467 of the same Act.

The prosecutor also to the court the the defendant’s act contravened sections 3(1)(a) of the Merchandise Marks Act. Cap. M 10, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and punishable under section 3(3) of the same Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.

With defendant’s not guilty plea, the prosecutor, ACP Asogwa, asked the court for date for trial, while also urges the court to remand the defendant in prison custody till the determination of the charge against him.

But the defendant’s lawyer, Mr. Abdul Malik, told the court that he was not oppose to trial date, he however told the court that he has filed a bail application for his client and same has been served on the prosecution and that he is ready to move the application.

Responding, the prosecutor told the court that he was served with the application very late yesterday and that he needed time to reply.

With the submissions of the parties, Justice Saidu, while adjourned the matter till December 11, for hearing and determination of defendant’s bail application, equally ordered that the defendant be kept in prisons custody till the hearing and determination of his bail application.

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