Court Convicts Brewer Of Fake Alcoholic Drinks

Court Convicts Brewer Of Fake Alcoholic Bitter Drinks 

A Lagos Federal High Court, has convicted and sentenced a brewer of fake alcoholic drink, Yusuf Wasiu Adio, to six years imprisonment, for producing fake, unwholesome and unregistered bitter drinks

The court presided over by Justice Nicholas Oweibo, pronounced Yusuf convict and sentenced accordingly, after he changed his plea to guilty, of charges preferred agnst him by the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC). 

Justice Oweibo, however, gave him a fine of N170,000, in lieu of the six year imprisonment.

In securing the conviction of the fake alcoholic drinks brewer, NAFDAC through is prosecutor, Mr Umaru Shamaki, had arraigned him before the court sometimes in 2020, on a five-count charge of fake, unwholesome and unregistered bitter drinks.

Mr. Shamaki had told the court that the offences committed by the convict contravened sections (1)(a), 1(1) and 5 of Counterfeiting and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. C34 of Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Punishable under S. 6, 3(1)(a) and 17 of the same Act.

Shamaki had also listed the fake alcoholic drinks as; Okiki Ibile VIP Alcohol bitter, Odu bitter, also called ‘knockout’; Ogogoro Ibile Amotekun; Japata Alcohol bitter and nonalcoholic Odu and Amotekun bitters.

The convict had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges, and he was admitted to bail on various terms and conditions.

However, at the resumed trial on Thursday, the convict changed his plea and upon his changed of plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Shamaki, reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict him as charged and sentenced him accordingly.

In reviewing the facts of the case, the prosecutor tendered  the convict’s confessional statements, request for scientific Aid Form, laboratory reports and sample of items seized fake drinks.

Consequent upon the admitting the exhibits in evidence, Justice Oweibo convicted the convict.

Following court’s pronouncement, the convict’s counsel, Mr. Olajide Erinle, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client, adding that the convict is a first time offender and that he did not waste the time of the court before pleading  guilty to the charge.

In his judgment, Justice Oweibo said that; “I have considered the evidence adduced by the prosecutor, and the guilty plea of the convict. The fact that he did not waste the time of the court and the fact that he is a first time offender, I hereby sentence you, Yusuf Adio to N20,000 fine or alternatively six months imprisonment on count one, N50,000 or six months imprisonment in lieu on count two and N100,000 on count three or five years in the alternative, while the fine will run separately the terms of imprisonment shall run concurrently”.

The convict was arrested by NAFDAC’s operatives at his brewery, located at 11, Oladapo Olomo Street, Gberigbe in Ikorodu, while brewing the said fake and unregistered herbal bitter drinks.

editor

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