NAFDAC Arraigns Businesman, Others For Fake Alcoholic Drink ‘Japata’

National Agency for Drug Administration And Control Agency (NAFDAC) has arraigned a businessman, Sunday Chibuike and others before the Federal High Court in Lagos for dealing in an unregistered alcoholic drink named Japata.

Chibiuke was docked before Justice Yelim Bogoro alongside his company, Chigodson International Company Limited and one Ekpendu Chizurumoke, on-six count charge of producing, distributing, selling and dealing in unregistered products.

The prosecutor, O. M. About, told the court that the defendants, who reside in Lagos, were arrested on April 22, 2023, while producing the unwholesome alcoholic drink “Japata Alcoholic Bitters”.

The prosecutor told the court that the defendants produced the said adulterate drink by mixing it with marijuana but deceitfully labelled it with another product’s label to give the wrong impression that the glass was an original one.

He  claimed that the offences are contrary to section 1 of the Counterfeit and Fake Drug and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap C34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 3 (1){a) of the same Act.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

With their plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in prison pending the conclusion of the trial.

But defence counsel, Kenneth Ogujuiba, pleaded with the court to admit his clients to bail, saying that their bail applications have been filed and served on the prosecutor.

Justice Bogoro, after listening to the lawyers, adjourned the matter to September 9 for trial, while she also ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).