Businessman Docked For Re-labelling, Selling Expired Mayonnaise
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has re-arraigned a businessman, Ezeudu Emmanuel Emeka before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly re-labelling and selling expired Mayonnaise and other food items to unsuspecting members of the public.
The businessman was docked before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo by NAFDAC on a 10-counts charge of re-labelling, repackaging and selling expired food products.
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 person, a resident of 15, Ipaye Street, Surulere, Lagos, had on or before April 27, 2015, sold some un-labeled food products.
The agency also claimed that the accused person falsely relabelled, repackaged and distributed said food products, without registering them.
The offences according to the NAFDAC prosecutor, 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.
At the last sitting of the court, the prosecution called one of its witnesses and tendered some of the expired food products confiscated from the accused as exhibit, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.
The matter has been adjourned till February 19, for continuation of trial.
One 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”.
Another count reads: “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”.
Another count also reads: ” 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”.