The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday, arraigned one Afamefuna Udensi before Justice Emeka Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi on charges bordering on importation, sale and distribution of fake Phini Tramadol 100mg.
Point News247 reports that in the suit numbered FHCL/294/C/21, the suspect was said to have used the NAFDAC number of Tramadol 100mg, a registered product belonging to Macdec Pharmaceutical to perpetuate the crime.
According to NAFDAC, Phini Pharm, belonging to Udensi in a premeditated attempt to beat NAFDAC’s Ports Inspection Directorate (PID) at the port of entry, concealed the fake products with furnitures and motor spare parts in groupage from China.
The agency explained further: “However, the cartel (a major counterfeiter is a Nigerian in China) then counterfeited first the registered version and secondly the Phini Tramadol 100mg using the NAFDAC No. of Macdec.
“A random sample purchased from the market before investigations led us to Afamefuna (suspect) had zero active ingredient.
“On receipt of the petition, I&E investigative team liaised with Inspector-General of Police
Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) and the petitioner to track, trace and arrest the suspects connected to this case.
“After the suspects were arrested by the IGP-IRT, the team transferred three suspects including Afam Udensi ‘M’, Nnamadi Uzorma ‘M’ and Ezenduka Chikoda ‘F’ and 144 cartons of Tramadol 100mg to the NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.
“In the same vein, I&E gathered intelligence on a warehouse at Onitsha, Anambra State
belonging to the Clearing Agent of the suspected kingpin of the syndicate and a raid
operation was conducted.
“During the raid, operatives recovered 171 cartons of the products purportedly smuggled in from China. It was also observed that some of the cartons had the names of the suspect written on them”.
The charges against Udensi read: “That you, Afemefuna Udensi, Male, adult, 43 years old, of No 2, Ezinwanne Street, GRA, Onitsha, Anambra State, on or about the 26th day of October, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did import drug to wit-: phini tramadol 100g drug and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(C) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. C34, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 3 (1) a of the same Act.
“That you, Alemefuna Udensi, Male, adult, 43 years old, of No 2. Einwanne Street, GRA, Onitsha, Anambra State, on or about the 26th day of October, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did sell fake drug to
wit: phini tramadol 100g and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(C) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. C34, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 3 (1) a of the same Act.
“That you, Afemefuna Udensi, Male, adult, 43 years old, of No 2, Ezinwanne Street, GRA, Onitsha, Anambra State, on or about the 26th day of October, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did import unregistered
drug to wit: phini tramadol 100g and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Food, Drug and Related Products (Registration, ETC.) Act, Cap. F33, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 6 (1) a of the same Act”.
The defendant however pleaded “not guilty” to all three charges preferred against him.
The lead prosecuting counsel for NAFDAC, Barrister Okoli Chinyere during the proceedings informed the court that the agency had already granted the suspect administrative bail on health grounds, but was mandated to appear in court for official arraignment.
Following this, the defence counsel, Barrister Emeka Okpoko (SAN) prayed the court to hear his client’s bail application, which the judge billed for Monday, November 15, 2021.
Judge Osiagor ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison custody at Alagbon.