Lukman Olabiyi
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) through the office of Attorney General of the Federation has arraigned four men before the Federal High Court, Lagos for allegedly producing and selling adulterated engine oil.
The businessmen, Uche Johnson, Olaide Shittu, Kingsley Meteke and Abdulquadri Olayinka were docked before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo, having been alleged to have adulterated 128 drums and 9.45 litres of engine oil.
The four-count charge preferred against them bordered on production, possession, dealing in and distribution of substandard engine oil.
SON alleged that the defendants indulged in production of engine oil which, violating mandatory industrial standards.
The defendants allegedly claimed that the products were good for public consumption and for optimum engine performance, claims the prosecution said were false.
The products were said to have failed to comply with SON Conformity Assessment Programme.
The offence contravened the provisions of sections 1(8) and 1(8)(II) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After their arraignment, the prosecutor, Mr J. A Olofindare, from the Federal Ministry of Justice, urged the court to set a date for trial and for the prosecution to produce its witnesses to establish its case against the defendants.
Defence counsel Mr S. U Nweze informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of the defendants.
Moving the application, he urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.
Justice Oguntoyibo adjourned till March 19 ruling on the bail application.
“They’re hereby remanded in prison pending determination of the bail application,” she ruled.
She fixed May 2, 7 and 9 for trial.