NAFDAC Arraigns Chinese Over Unregistered Diapers

The National Agency
for Food, Drug Administration and Control on Monday charged a Chinese citizen at the Federal High Court, Awka, for illegal importation and sale of unregistered and counterfeit diapers.
The Chinese, Lu Pengqing, was accused of the sale of counterfeit product, possession of counterfeit product, importation of counterfeit product, importation of product without registration and distribution of product without registration.
Pengqing however pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecutor, Mr. Umar Shamaki, said Pengqing was arrested with the unregistered and counterfeit diapers at 9 Awka Road, Onitsha in Anambra on February 10, while distributing the counterfeit and unregistered diaper products to unsuspecting members of the public.
He urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody and order the confiscation of his international passport during the trial.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Emeka Nathaniel, however argued that his client did not import or sell counterfeit and unregistered products as alleged and prayed the court grant him a “lenient and favourable bail.”
In his ruling, Justice Gafa’I Bature, before adjourning the matter to May 6, granted the accused bail on three conditions.
“First, the accused must produce two sureties, who are civil servants, serving and working in Anambra State either with the Federal Government or Anambra State; and secondly, the court would have to verify the residence of the accused in Onitsha.
“Thirdly, the accused shall deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court,” the judge said.