NAFDAC nabs Chinese Man for Importing Fake Goods into Nigeria

A Chinese national, Lu Pengqing was on Monday arraigned by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State over importation and sales of unregistered and counterfeit products in the state. He was accused on a five-count charge before Justice Gafa’i Bature, which included possession of counterfeit products, importation of product without registration and distribution of product without registration. The accused however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The prosecutor, Mr Umar Shamaki, had said Pengqing was arrested with the unregistered and counterfeit diapers at 9 Awka Road, Onitsha in Anambra on February 10. However, NAFDAC prayed the court to remand the accused in prison custody with his passport confiscated . Counsel to the accused, Mr Emeka Nathaniel, argued that his client was not importing or selling counterfeit and unregistered products as alleged and prayed that the court grant the accused lenient and favourable bail. In his ruling, Justice Bature, granted the accused bail on three conditions; while adjourning the hearing of the case to May 6. The accused must produce two sureties, who were civil servants, serving and working in Anambra, and secondly, the court would have to verify the residence of the accused in Onitsha. Also, the accused shall deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court.