y Lukman Olabiyi
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered the remand of four businessmen charged with production of substandard engine oil.
The businessmen, Johnson, Shittu, Meteke and Abdulquadri, were charged by the Federal Government on four counts of production, possession, dealing in and distribution of substandard products.
When the case was mentioned before the court, Mr. J.A. Olofindare, from the Federal Ministry of Justice, announced appearance for the prosecution. He informed the court that counsel to the defendants was absent, and prayed that the defendants be kept in prison custody pending their arraignment.
Consequently, Oguntoyibo ordered that the defendants should be kept in prison, and adjourned the case until March 1 for their arraignment.
The judge directed that the date be communicated to the defence counsel in writing. He ordered that evidence of such should be exhibited in court.
The defendants were alleged to have indulged in production for public consumption engine oil that did not meet mandatory industrial standards. They were said to have adulterated 128 drums and 9.45 litres of engine oil.
The products were said to have failed to comply with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s (SON) Conformity Assessment Programme.
According to the prosecution, the offences contravened the provisions of sections 1(8) and 1(8)(II) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004.
The alleged offences also contravene the provisions of Section 26 of the SON Act.