Ladipo Sanusi/
A Lagos-based businessman, Kenneth Chibuko Chiokwe, has been jailed over importation and sale of fake drugs.
He was sentenced to 11 years and six months imprisonment without option of fine by a Federal High Court, Lagos on Tuesday.
He was charged to court by the National Agency for Foods Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over unlawful importation of a cough syrup mixed with a banned substance, codeine.
Justice Jude Dagat found him guilty of three counts of fake drug importation, possession of fake drug and importation of unregistered drug.
The accused was sentenced to five years imprisonment each for counts one and two and 18 months for importation of unregistered drug, making a total of 11years and six months.
The accused whose store is located at 5 Laniyo street, Idi-oro, Mushin, Lagos, was arraigned on a six-court charge of fake drug importation, possession of fake drug, selling of fake drug, distribution of fake drug, importation of unregistered drug and selling of same.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Umar Shamaki, are contrary to 1(a): 1(1) and 1 and punishable under sections 3(1)(a) and 6(1)(a) of the Counterfeiting and Fake Drug and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap. C34 LFN 2004.
The convict had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During trial, the prosecution called four witnesses and tendered large volume of cough syrup known as CSP, which contained the banned codeine.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused was intercepted on January 11, 2016 at Church street, Idumota, Lagos by the NAFDAC’s operatives, when he was about supplying his customers at Idumota the cough syrup.
Shamaki said the drugs were imported from the Republic of Benin.
The judge found the accused guilty of count one, two and four, but acquitted him of count three, five and six.
He however ordered that the jail term should run concurrently starting from the date of conviction.
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