A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered two Chinese nationals, Tao Shen and Jing Yau, charged with importation over N5 billion worth of fake tyres, to be remanded in prison.
Shen, 36, and Yau, 22, are being tried alongside a Nigerian, Chinedu Madubuike and two companies, Sino Nig. Import and Export Ltd, and Nedeca International Ltd on a four-count charge of importing sub-standard tyres into the country
When the charges were read to the accused and translated into Chinese by an interpreter, they both pleaded not guilty.
The trial Judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, consequently, fixed March 21, to determine the bail application for the accused.
In the charges, the accused were said to have committed the offence in February by conspiring to import tyres, which did not meet the relevant Nigeria industrial standard.
The accused were said to have imported the tyres which did not comply with the mandatory Nigeria standard by stuffing different sizes into one, thereby, making the tyres unfit for its original purpose.
The tyres were said to have failed to meet the relevant Nigerian industrial standard and likely to endanger human lives.
Also, the accused were alleged to have failed to furnish returns on the conditions of the imported tyres as required by law.
The offences are said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 320 and 510 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
They are also said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 26 and 32 of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Act, No 14, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
Officials of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) arrested the two Chinese nationals, last month.
The suspects were paraded after their arrest and the warehouse, where they were cloning different sizes of tyres under different brand names, was sealed off.
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