Trader Arraigned For Trade-mark Falsification

A 44 year-old trader, Abraham Umeh, was on Friday, arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on charges bordering falsification and adulteration of trade mark, and fraudulent representation.

Umeh, a father of three, was alleged in a charge marked B/35/2018, to have between the month of January and February, 2018, while in Ibadan, conspired with some others said to be at large, at the Zone C, block shop 57, flat 58, Aspamda Market, Trade Fair, Lagos, to adulterates the trade mark of UNIGO Motorcycle’s spare parts product.

He was also alleged to have in concert with the others now at large, at Zone C, block 14, shop 64, flat 58, falsified the motorcycles’ spare parts product, and selling the said adulterated and falsified spare parts, which he fraudulently presented as genuine, to unsuspecting buyers.

The offences according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, are. Contrary to sections 411, 4(a) and 3(1) of the criminal laws of Lagos state, 2015, and Merchandised Mark Act cap. M10, laws of the federation 2004, and punishable under 3(b) of the same Act.

The defendant first pleaded guilty to the charges.

However, upon intervention of his lawyer, George Lekwe, who told the court that his client was a first time offender, who did not understand the different between being guilty and not, urged the court retake his plea.

It was at the upon being asked for the second time that he changed his plea, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following  his changed of plea, his lawyer, Lekwe, urged the court to grant bail in the most lenient terms and conditions.

But the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun vehemently opposed the bail application, on the ground that the it took police several terms before the defendant could be apprehended.

Animashaun particularly told the court that the defendant was arrested at Ibadan, Oyo State, all in the course of evading arrest.

However, the presiding Chief Magistrates, Mrs. Afolashade Botoku, admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500, 000, with two sureties in the like sum.

Chief Magistrate Botoku also ordered that the sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax payable to Lagos state government, means of livelihood, and have their both residential and office addresses verified by the prosecutor.

The matter has been adjourned till June 1, for trial.