Court Jails Brewer Of Fake Exotic Wine, Spirits For 40 Years

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos has convicted and sentenced a fake brewer, Otuorimuno Aziakpono, to 40 years in prison for producing counterfeit exotic wine and spirits.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa also sentenced a trader Ikegwuonu Ikechukwu to the same term for selling counterfeit drinks.

The judge handed down the verdict after the convicts pleaded guilty to an eight-count charge of conspiracy and producing unwholesome drinks brought against them by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

The prosecutor Banabars Simon informed the court that the convicts were arrested following intelligence reports that they were manufacturing counterfeit exotic drinks including Hennessy V. S. O. P, Hennessy Very Special, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Williams Lawson Blended Scotch Whiskey, Gordons Dry Gin, and others.

Simon also told the court that the convicts, who resided at 4 Kojo Street, Ijanikin, Lagos, and 1 Lane 3, Cele Bus Stop, Lagos, were arrested on December 3, 2025, with the counterfeit drinks.

He claimed that during their arrest, police recovered bottles, labels, corks, and fake drinks from their residence.

The prosecutor maintained that the offences violated sections 1(a), 1(c), 1(1), and 1(b) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act, Cap. C34, LFN, 2004, punishable under Section 3(1)(a), and Section 5 of the Food and Drugs Act, Cap. F32, LFN, 2004, punishable under Section 17(1).

The court was urged to convict and sentence the suspects based on this evidence.

Defence lawyer Ugochukwu Jonathan asked the court for non-custodial sentences, stating that his clients are first-time offenders and were remorseful.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa expressed concern about health risks from counterfeit drinks but considered the defence’s plea.

He sentenced the convicts to five years’ imprisonment on each of the eight counts, with an option to pay a N10 million fine per count, sentences to run concurrently.