Alaba Trader Arraigned Over Engine Oil Adulteration Allegation
A trader at the popular ASPAMDA International Market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, Ezeabasili Ikechukwu Kelvin, has been arraigned before Yaba Chief magistrate court, on allegations of conspiracy and adulteration of engine oil.
The defendant and others now at large, according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, a Legal Officer at Force Criminal Investigation Department ForceCID Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos Lagos, allegedly committed the offences sometimes in May 2025.
Animashaun told the court that while working at Lawmaco Interbiz Limited, adulterated and produced an engine oil product named Hardex Engine Oil, which was substandard, noxious, dangerous and unfit for use.
He told the court that the defendant’s acts contravened sections 411 and 160(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Cap. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Animashaun after arraigning the defendant who denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges, urged the court to remand him in the Correctional Services facility, pending trial.
But lawyer to the defendant, S. A. Adewale, moved his client’s bail application. And urged the court to admit him to bail in he most liberal terms.
In response, the prosecutor while not opposed the counsel’s request, however prayer the court to make the bail terms such the one that will ensure the defendant’s presence in court until the matter is disposed off.
Magistrate A. I. O. Alaka in his ruling after listening to the submissions of parties, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500, 000. 00, with two responsible sureties in like sum.
Magistrate Alaka further ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed, with evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government. Adding that the sureties addresses must be verified by the prosecutor.
The Magistrate while adjourning the matter to December 17, for mention, however ordered the defendant’s remand in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
Charges Against The Defendant Read: “that you, Ezeabasili Ikechukwu Kelvin ‘M’, and others (now at large) sometime in May, 2025, at Lawmaco Interbiz Limited, located at ASPAMDA International Market, Trade Fair Complex, along Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire with others now at large to commit a felony, to wit: adulteration of Hardex Engine Oil, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Cap. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you, Ezeabasili Ikechukwu Kelvin ‘M’ and others (now at large), sometime in May, 2025, at Lawmaco Interbiz Limited, located at ASPAMDA International Market, Trade Fair Complex, along Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did process Hardex Engine Oil which was not of the quality, substance, nature or efficacy expected of the product or which the seller represented it to be, or which had in any way become noxious, dangerous, or unfit for use, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 160(a) and (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Cap. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.”