Ladipo Sanusi/
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two men who allegedly specialise in forging NAFDAC’s product registration certificate.
The pair were arraigned before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of a Federal High Court, Lagos on Thursday for allegedly defrauding an Indian, Yaser De Zhkam, of $13, 275.
The defendants, Eze Okoronkwo and Okechukwu Ariguzo, were accused of obtaining the money from their victim under the pretence of registering a product, Fresh Mango, with the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The EFCC in a charge marked FHC/L/223c/17 alleged that the defendants committed the offence on October 17, 2016.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained the sum of $13, 275 from the victim through one Ndukwe Darlington’s First Bank account with number 2028486705 on November 10, 2016.
The two defendants were also accused of forging various NAFDAC documents including a NAFDAC letter with reference number NAFDAC/ABJ/FGN/021572/016, dated September 6, 2016, captioned: “Notification of Product Approval”, purportedly issued by one Pharmacist Joy Ekenma.
Other documents allegedly forged by the defendants included a NAFDAC’s Certificate of Registration index number 2014881 and registration number 01-8097 in the name of Fresh Mango, purportedly issued by the NAFDAC’s Director-General, a NAFDAC’s letter of reference with number NAFDAC/ABJ/FGN/021512/06, dated October 18, 2016, captioned: “Re: Confirmation of file number NAFDAC/ENU/DHR/APS/092276/016 meant for immediate issuance of NAFDAC Certificate”, purportedly issued by one Yetunde Oluremi Oni, an Executive Director with NAFDAC.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Abubakar M. Idris, are contrary to sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) and punishable under sections 3 and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2016.
Idris also said the offences are contrary to sections And sections 465 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under sections 467 of the same Act.
Both defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor consequently pleaded with the court to fix a date for trial and also urged the court to remand the defendants in prison custody pending the commencement of trial.
However, the defendants’ lawyers, Mr. Elechukwu Emmanuel and Chinelolo Ngbeadichie, pleaded with the court to admit their clients to bail.
They informed the court that they had filed bail applications for their clients and same had been served on the prosecution. They added that their clients have been deligient since they were admitted to administrative bail by NAFDAC.
Following the confirmation of the defence lawyers’ submissions by the prosecutor, the judge admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1m with one surety each in the same sum.
The judge ordered that the surety must own a landed property in Lagos State, or be a Grade level 13 public servant in a Federal or Lagos State ministry.
The defendants are to be remanded in prison custody until they meet the bail conditions, while the matter was adjourned till November 28, 2017, for commencement of trial.
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