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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arraigned three persons suspected of producing several substandard and falsified medicines before a Kano High Court. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye disclosed this during a virtual meeting which was held on Friday. According to Adeyeye, who was represented by Kasim Idrisa Ibrahim, NAFDAC’s Kano State Coordinator, although, the trio pleaded not guilty to the 5-count charges brought against them, Adeyeye said they could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
The three persons arraigned before the Federal High Court, Kano are Mr. Amao Gideon, Alumona Godwin Okwiludili, Hillary Onah Paul Chigozie and Giddyson Healthcare Limited are facing a 5-count charge of manufacturing, sale, distribution of substandard and falsified medicines. Three of the charges brought against the suspects came under Counterfeit Act, which carries a punishment of fine not exceeding N5 million or a prison sentence not exceeding 15 years imprisonment.
The other two charges against the suspects come under the Food and Drug Act, the penalty of which carries a N50,000 fine or two years imprisonment while the fifth charge which comes under the Food and Drug Registration Act carries the same penalty as the fourth charge. Adeyeye lamented that the Agency would not relent in tracking the suspects as they pose existential threat to citizens of Nigeria. While explaining the gravity of the offences , she sa.