Substandard engine oil: Firm’s MD remanded in prison

By Peter Fowoyo, Lagos

A Federal High Court, in Ikoyi, Lagos state has ordered that a former Managing Director of Richbon Nigeria Limited, Cajethan Muonagolu, be remanded in prison following his arraignment by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).

Cajethan was arraigned on a four-count charge of dealing in adulterated and substandard engine oil.

Justice Saliu Saidu granted him bail for N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties, the judge said, must be a civil/public servant not less than Grade Level 15 in the employment of the federal or Lagos state government. The other surety must be the defendant’s relation who owns a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

The court ordered the sureties to deposit their passport photographs, while Cajethan must deposit his international passport with the court registrar. The prosecution and the court registrar are to verify the sureties’ addresses, the judge said.

Justice Saidu ordered that Cajethan should be remanded in prison until he meets his bail terms.

Arguing the bail application, defence counsel, Goke Olagunlehin, holding the brief of Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

But, SON prosecuting counsel, Messrs Babatunde Alajogun and Adeleke Olofindare, opposed the bail application on the grounds that Cajethan allegedly committed another offence while the charge was pending.

Alajogun said the defendant broke and removed SON’s official seal and evacuated 15, 000 cartons of suspected adulterated/substandard engine oil from his company and allegedly assaulted SON officials in the course of their lawful duties.

The court ordered the counsel for the prosecution and defence to visit the warehouse to ascertain the breaking of the seal or otherwise.

Cajethan and his company allegedly committed the offence on December 12, 2018, at ASPAMDA Trade Fair Complex, Lagos Badagry Expressway.

SON said they conspired to deal in 15, 000 cartons of Prime Plasma, Prime ATF and Stanley brand of engine oil which it said are substandard.

The prosecution said the defendants claimed that the products were genuine, contrary to Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act of 2004.

They also allegedly failed to comply with SON Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) by dealing in engine oil that did not have the requisite MANCAP certification.

Their arraignment is coming less than a month after SON arraigned four men, Uche Johnson, Olaide Shittu, Kingsley Meteke and Abdulquadri Olayinka before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo of the same court for allegedly adulterating 128 drums and 9.45 litres of engine oil.

They allegedly claimed that the products with genuine engine oil and sold them to unsuspecting motorists. Their trial is ongoing.

Justice Saidu has adjourned the matter until May 20 for trial.