A Federal High Court, Lagos, Wednesday, ordered a business man, Paul Uche to pay a fine of N2.5million and in addition serve a 30 days community or in the alternative, serve a five years jail term for importation and possession of fake drugs: Matlamal Forte Tablets (Primary Package) with Diclofenac Potassium Entric Coated 50mg (Secondary Package).
Justice Kala passed the sentence following a plea bargain agreement reached between the convict and the National Agency for Food Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and his guilty plea to the seven counts charge.
When the matter came up, yesterday, the prosecutor, B. Simon, informed the court of the pendency of the seven count charge and that both parties in an effort to resolve the matter without going through lengthy trial have agreed on a plea bargain agreement copies of which he said has been filed before the court.
Simon, therefore, urged the judge to order that the charge be read, so that the defendant can retake his plea to same.
Following the reading of the charge, the defendant pleaded guilty to the seven counts and the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case by tendering all relevant documents and exhibits recovered from the defendant.
Following the guilty plea of the defendant and review of facts, Simon asked the court to convict and sentence the defendant in line with the plea bargain arrangement reached with NACFAC.
Justice Kala after listening to the prosecutor and in the absence of objection from the defence counsel, Mrs. Oreofe Ogunleye, the trial judge convicted and sentence the defendant to a fine of N500,000 each on counts one to four and N50,000 each on counts five to seven, making a total of N2.5 million.
In addition, Justice Kala further ordered the convict to serve a 30 days community service or in the alternative to the monetary fine and community service, the court ordered the convict to serve a five years jail term effective from today.
The seven count charge against the convict reads: “That you, Paul Uche, 46 years old, of No 53, Mushin Road, Isolo, Lagos, on or about August 29, 2025, at Victory Ware House, located at Ilasa, Sadiku bus stop, along Oshodi Apapa Expressway, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, was found in possession of fake drugs to wit Matlamal Forte Tablets (Primary Package) with Diclofenac Potassium Entric Coated 50mg (Secondary Package) | and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, Cap. C34, LFN,2004 and punishable under Section 3(1) (a) of the same Act.
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COUNT 2. That you, Paul Chibuzor Uche, 46 years old, of No 53, Mushin Road, Isolo, Lagos, on or about August 29, 2025, at Victory ware house, located at Ilasa, Sadiku bus stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this court, did display fake drugs for the purpose of sale to wit: Malamal Forte Tablets (Primary Package) with Diclofenac Potassium Entric Coated 50 mg (Secondary Package) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(b) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, Cap. C34, LFN,2004 and punishable under Section 3(1) (a) of the same Act.
COUNT 3. That you, Paul Chibuzor Uche, 46 years old, of No 53, Mushin Road, Isolo, Lagos,
on or about August 29, 2025, at Victory ware house, located at Ilasa, sadiku bus stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this court, did import fake drugs to wit: -Malamal Forte Tablets (Primary Package) with Diclofenac Potassium Entric Coated 5Omg (Secondary Package) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) 4) Act, Cap. C34, LEN 2004 and punishable under Section 3({1) (a) of the same Act.
COUNT 4. That you, Paul Uche, 46 years old, of No 53, Mushin Road, Isolo, Lagos, on August 29, 2025, at Victory ware house, located at Ilasa, sadiku bus stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos conspired with with one Munson Ibeabuchi, who is based in China, within the jurisdiction of this court, did aid one Michael Galt to import fake drugs to wit: Malamal Forte Tablets (Primary Package) with Diclofenac Potassium Entric Coated 50mg (Secondary Package) Section 2(1(c) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, Cap. C34, LEN, 2004 and punishable under Section 3({1) (b) of the same Act.
COUNT 5. That you, Paul Uche, 46 years old, of No 53, Mushin Road, Isolo, Lagos, on or about the 29th day of August, 2025, at Victory ware house, located at IIasa, Sadiku bus stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this court, did store adulterated drugs to wit: Malamal Forte Tablets (Primary Package) with Diclofenac Potassium Entric Coated 50mg (Secondary Package) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) of the Food and Orugs Act, Cap. F32, LFN,2004 and punishable under Section 17(1) of the same Act.
Count 6. That you, Paul Uche, 46 years old, of No 53, Mushin Road, Isolo, Lagos, on or about August 29, 2025, at Victory ware house, located at Ilasa, sadiku bus stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this court, imported unregistered drugs to wit: Malamal Forte Tablets (Primary Package) with Diclofenac Potassium Entric Coated 50mg (Secondary Package) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Food, Drugs ETC) Act, Cap F33, LFN,2004 and punishable under Section 6(1a) and 8 of the same Act.
COUNT 7. That you, Paul Uche, 46 years old, of No 53, Mushin Road, solo, Lagos, on or about the 29th day of August, 2025, at Victory ware house, located at Ilasa, sadiku bus stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this court, distributed unregistered Malamal Forte Tablets (Primary Package) with Diclofenac Potassium Entric Coated 50mg (Secondary Package) . and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Food, Drugs and Related Products (Registration, ETC) Act, Cap. F33, LFN,2004 and punishable under Section 6(1)(a) and 8 of the same Act.
