- Justice A Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra state, has sentenced four traders to six years in prison
- The traders were sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing and selling counterfeit and substandard drugs bearing forged tradmarks
- The prosecutor, Nwokoro Emmanuel, says the judgement will serve as a deterrent to the public
Four traders have been sentenced to six years in prison by a Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra state, for dealing in fake drugs.
Justice A Abubakar ruled that after they were found guilty of possessing and selling counterfeit and substandard drugs bearing forged trademarks, Anayo Okoye, Ifeanyi Onuoha, Chukwudozie Eze, Okechukwu Nwafor, would serve 18 months each in prison, Punch reports.
Legit.ng gathers that before their sentence, the convicts' lawyer, EO Ego, had earlier pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy. The lawyer said the convicts were first time offenders who had families to cater for.
According to the judge, the jail term will run concurrently since one of the convicts had already been in detention for about five years.
READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda
Reacting to the judgement, the prosecutor, Nwokoro Emmanuel, said: “The judgment is a step in the right direction because that will send a warning signal to all those out there peddling fake drugs in the society. I do know that a lot of people have died as a result of fake drugs and this judgment will help in stopping that. We are there to ensure that people are safe in the society.
“To me, the judgment is okay. What is important is that it will serve as a deterrent to the public. It is aimed at stopping the people from indulging in the wrong acts.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the police in Lagos state arrested an ex-employee of a pharmaceutical company, Chukwunonye Madubuike, for alleged indiscriminate distribution of a controlled substance identified as codeine in the state.
The suspect was said to have sold the illegal substance to an undercover investigator of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Adejuwon Soyinka.
When the news of the transaction broke out, Madubuike took to his heel. According to the commissioner of police in Lagos state, Edgal Imohimi, the suspect was arrested in the Idiroko border town of Ogun state while attempting to escape to Cotonou, Benin Republic.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Imohimi, who stated that Madubuike claimed he sold the controlled substance in order to meet his sales target, said while in the employment of the pharmaceutical company, the suspect had access to the substance for the purpose of distribution to licensed retail pharmacies in his assigned territory.
The police boss said: "But due to his greed for money, he knowingly supplied the controlled drug to persons who are not supposed to have access to them in the first place contrary to the dictates of the drug laws of Nigeria."
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better
Nigeria News Today: Police Arrest 'Sweet Sweet' Codeine Vendor, Suspected Cult Members | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
