Man Jailed 5 Years For Producing Fake Aromatic Schnapps

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced 40-year-old Chinedu Okafor to five years in prison for manufacturing and selling counterfeit Eagle Aromatic Schnapps, Apple Multifruit Juice Wine, Lord’s Gin, and other products.

The trial judge, Justice Ambeose Lewis-Allagoa, jailed Okafor after he pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of producing and distributing unwholesome processed foods.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has told the court that the convict, who resides at 4, 1st MTN Road, Badagry, Lagos, committed the offences on April 26, 2024.

The prosecutor, Bartholomew Simon, had also told the court that the convict was arrested while manufacturing unregistered processed foods and food articles under insanitary conditions.

Simon further maintained that the offences violated Section 1(a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. C34, LFN, 2004, and is punishable under Section 3(1)(a) of the same Act.

The convict, who was operating under the name ‘Sky Blue Company, had initially pleaded not guilty and later changed his plea to guilty.

Following the development, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to sentence Okafor, taking into account his plea, his confessional statement, exhibits, and relevant laws.

But the defence lawyer asked for leniency, emphasising that his client was a first-time offender and that he had shown remorse.

The lawyer also informed the court that the convict had promised never to commit such crimes again.

He also requested that the court consider a fine in place of a prison sentence.

In his judgment, the judge sentenced the defendant to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an alternative fine of N10 million per count.

The court ordered that the jail term should run concurrently, but the fines should be paid separately.