NAFDAC Arraigns bussinessman for Relabelling, Selling Expired Mayonnaise, Others

The National Food and Drug Administration Agency (NAFDAC), has re-arraigned a businessman, Ezeudu Emmanuel Emeka, who was arrested for relabelling and selling expired Mayonnaise and other food items before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Emeka was sometimes charged before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo, on 10 counts charge bordering on relabelling, repackaging and selling expired food products, September, last year.

Some of the expired food products include: Pine White Ground Pepper; Summerfield whole kernel sweet corn; Bama Mayonnaise; Summerfield baked beans; Sweet Chilk chicken sauce; Real Value Mayonnaise and Superior Light Soy Sauce.

NAFDAC in charge number FHC/L/200c/2015, alleged that the accused, a resident of 15, Ipaye Street, Surulere, Lagos, had on or before April 27, 2015, sold some unlabeled food products.

He was also alleged to have falsely relabelled, repackaged and distributed said food products, without registering them.

The offences according to the NAFDAC prosecutor, Mr. Umar Mashaki, are contrary to sections 1, 1(a) and 5(a), of the Food, Drugs, related products (registration etc.) Act Cap F33, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under sections 6(1)(a) 3(1), 3, 17 and 3(1)(a) of the same Act.

When the matter came up, the prosecution called one of its witnesses and tendered some of the expired food products confiscated from the accused as evidence, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

The matter has been adjourned till today, for continuation of trial.

Part of the counts read: “that you Ezeudu Emmanuel Emeka, of 15, Ipaye Street, Surulere, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, on or about May 27, 2015, did sold article of food products unfit for consumption to wit:Pine White Ground Pepper; Summerfield whole kernel sweet corn; Bama Mayonnaise; Summerfield baked beans; Sweet Chilk chicken sauce; Real Value Mayonnaise and Superior Light Soy Sauce, and thereby committed to an offence contrary to section 1(b) of the Food, Drugs, related products (registration etc.) Act Cap F33, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 17, of the same Act”.

“That you Ezeudu Emmanuel Emeka, of 15, Ipaye Street, Surulere, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, on or about May 27, 2015, found in possession of expired food products wit: Superior Light Soy Sauce, and thereby committed to an offence contrary to section 5(a) of the Food, Drugs, related products (registration etc.) Act Cap F33, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 17, of the same Act”.

“That you Ezeudu Emmanuel Emeka, of 15, Ipaye Street, Surulere, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, on or about May 27, 2015, found in possession of Unwholesome processed food to wit: Pine White Ground Pepper; Summerfield whole kernel sweet corn; Bama Mayonnaise; Summerfield baked beans; Sweet Chilk chicken sauce; Real Value Mayonnaise and Superior Light Soy Sauce, and thereby committed to an offence contrary to section 1(a) of the Food, Drugs, related products (registration etc.) Act Cap F33, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 3 (1)(a), of the same Act”.

Peter Fowoyo