NAFDAC Arraigns 2 Men Over Alleged Unregistered Vegetable Oil, Fake Exotic Drinks
Two traders, Ifeanyi Jasper and 48-year-old Uchenna Ekezie, were today arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, by the operatives of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC), over alleged dealing, possessing, manufacturing, distributing and selling allegedly unwholesome and unregistered food products, including vegetable oil and alcoholic beverages.
The first defendant, a 54 year-old Ifeanyi Jasper, who trades under the name and style of Femic Bridge Point, was arraigned on a four-count charge of the alleged possession, importation and distribution of unwholesome vegetable oil identified as Aro Rapsol, in the charge marked FHC/LAG/CR/818/2026.
The prosecutor, Anita Madu, had told the court that the defendant was allegedly found in possession of the vegetable oil at Trinity Warehouse, in the Ojo area of Lagos State, on April 1, 2026.
The prosecutor further alleged that the defendant conspired and aided one Akodow, said to be resident in Germany and currently at large, in importing and distributing the unwholesome and unregistered product.
She told the court that the alleged illegal acts of the defendant were contrary to the provisions of the Food, Drugs and Related Products (Registration, Etc.) Act, Cap. F33, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. And punishable under the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. C34, LFN 2004, as well as relevant food registration laws.
The second defendant, 48 years old, Uchenna Ekezie was acing a seven-count charge numbered FHC/LAG/CR/656/2026.
The prosecutor, Anita Madu, told the court that the defendant, a resident of Olumokun Street, Mushin, Lagos, was arrested on July 15, 2026, with fake Hennessy Very Special, Seaman’s Schnapps, Lord’s Gin London Dry, Eagle Aromatic Schnapps and Martell VS at his shop and parking shop, situated at Ojuwoye Market, Mushin, Lagos.
He was also accused of manufacturing, distributing, selling and storing the above listed alcoholic beverages and packaging them in a manner allegedly misleading consumers about their safety. And
The defendant was alleged to have dealt with the list fake liquors under insanitary conditions.
The prosecutor informed the court that Ekezie’s acts are contrary to Sections 1(a) and 1(b) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, Cap. C34, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 3(1) (a) of the same Act. And Sections 1(1) and 1(3)of the Food, Drugs and Related Products (Registration, ETC,) Act, Cap. F33, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 6 (1) (a) of the same Act.
The two defendants, in their separate pleas denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the defendants’ not guilty plea, the prosecutor prayed the court for a trial date, and urged the court to remand the defendants pending trial.
However, their lawyer, Gideon Eze, pleaded with the court for short date to enable him filed his clients’ bail application.
But the presiding judge, Justice Lewis-Allagoa, after listening to the layers, ruled that the offences which the defendants were charged for are bailable ones.
The judge thereafter admitted the bail to Ifeanyi Jasper in the sum N50 million, and Uchenna Ekezie in the sum of N100 million with one surety each respectively.
The surety, according to the judge must be a landed property owner within the jurisdiction of the court.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa however ordered that the two men be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS pending the fulfillment of the bail terms. While adjourned the matter to December 4, for trial.
