Four Face Trial for Importing Prohibited Pharmaceutical Products

Matilda Omonaiye/

A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned, till October 3, the trial of four businessmen who allegedly assembled and imported a 1X40FT container MRSU 3637299 with 710 cartons of prohibited pharmaceutical products, and deceitfully cleared and exited them with a truck marked KZR 536 ZT, from Apapa Port, before its interception by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service along Mile 2 Apapa Expressway on 5 November 2018.

The businessmen were identified as Fafiyebi Olalekan Mathew, Bello Bolaji Shakiru, Ikechukwu Iroha and Balogun Success.

According to an amended 4-count charge filed before the court by the prosecuting Counsels from the legal unit of the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters at Wuse, Zone 3, Abuja, Smart Akande and O. A. Olaofe, Fafiyebi Olalekan Mathew of No 3, Church Street, Mushin, Lagos State; Bello Bolaji Shakiru, of No 7, Akinyemi Street, Surulere, Lagos State; Ikechukwu Iroha,  of No 8, Abbey Que, Ifako, Gbagada, Lagos State; Balogun Success, Male, of No 2, Onyeosi, Oluwalogbon, Ikosi- Ketu, Lagos State; and Emeka Obi, Samuel Ezechukwu Chukwuemeka, Ifeoma Idigwe, Lawrence Onukogu, Loritha Ikeh, Chidi (Surname Unknown), Chalia (Surname Unknown), who are all presently at large, sometimes in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this  Court committed a criminal offence to wit: assembling to contravene the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), in that for the purpose of doing illegal acts on their own authority, assembled and imported a 1 X40FT container no MRSU 3637299 containing 710 cartons of pharmaceuticals which are prohibited from importations, and deceitfully cleared and exited them with a truck marked KZR 536 ZT, before its interception by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service along Mile 2/Apapa Expressway on 5 November, 2018.

It was further alleged that Fafiyebi Olalekan Mathew, of No 3, Church Street. Mushin, Lagos State; Bello Bolaji Shakiru, of No 7, Akinyemi Street, Surulere, Lagos State; Ikechukwu Iroha, of No 8, Abbey Que, Ifako, Gbagada, Lagos State; Balogun Success of No 2. Onyeosi, Oluwalogbon, Ikosi- Ketu, Lagos State; and Emeka Obi, Samuel Ezechukwu Chukwuemeka, Ifeoma Idigwe, Lawrence Onukogu, Loritha Ikeh, Chidi (Surname Unknown), Chalia (Surname Unknown), who are all presently at large, sometimes in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed a criminal offence to wit: assisting with the landing, unloading in Nigeria and removal from its place of import goods imported contrary to prohibition, in that they were all concerned with the landing and removal from the customs station a 1X40FT container no MRSU 3637299 containing 710 cartons of pharmaceuticals which are prohibited from importations, and deceitfully cleared and exited them with a truck marked KZR 536 ZT, before its interception by Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service along Mile 2/Apapa Expressway on 5th November 2018.

The offences allegedly committed by the defendants are contrary to and punishable under Section 47(1)(b) of the Customs and Excise Management Act, CAP C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.