NAFDAC prosecutes trader over production of unregistered Custard

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday granted bail to a trader, Christopher Nduka, 42, standing trial for alleged production of unregistered custard.

Nduka, who is being prosecuted by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), is facing a two-count charge of production of unregistered consumer product.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice John Tsoho granted the accused bail in the sum of one million naira with one surety in like sum.

Tsoho, however, ordered the accused to be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons, pending the perfection of his bail terms.

He then adjourned the case to March 3, 2015 for trial.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mr Washington Adumen, told the court that the accused was arrested on a tip-off on Nov. 6.

Adumen said that the accused operated a factory, located at No. 3, Saturday Close, Salolo on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, where he allegedly manufactured the unregistered products.

The prosecutor said that the factory had previously been sealed by NAFDAC, due to non-compliance with the registration policy of the agency.

He said that the accused and his cohorts allegedly broke the sealed factory and continued with their secret production of the commodity before they were apprehended.

The prosecutor said that the products include Nourish Gold Banana Custard, Falcon Refined Granulated Sugar, Falcon Vanilla Custard and Nourish Gold Chocolate Custard.

He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 5 (a), 6 (1) (a) and 17 (1) of the Food Drugs and Related Products Registration Act, Cap. F33, Laws of the Federation, 20004.