The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday, dragged some medicine dealers before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over alleged importation of fake tablets

The defendants are: Bernard Chinweuba, 47; his company Vanchris Pharmaceutical Nig. Ltd, Duru Chinwike, 30; and Valentine Ndukwe.(now at large)

They are standing trial before Justice Ayokule Faji, on a two-counts charge bordering on importation of fake and unwholesome drugs

The first defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and the third defendant who also represented the company (second defendant) also pleaded not guilty to the charge

Following a bail application filed on behalf of the defendants by defence counsel Mr Ikechukwu Anima the court granted the defendants bail in the sum of N7 million with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the case until March 28 and 29 2023, for trial.

In the charge, the prosecutor Mr Barth Simon alleged that the defendant committed the offence on Sept. 8 at Idumota in Lagos

He alleged that Vanchris Pharmaceutical Nig. Ltd (second defendant) Chinwike (third defendant) and Ndukwe (fourth defendant) who is also chairman of the Sabongari Patent and Propietory Medicine Dealers Association in Kano, committed the offence at Idumota in Lagos.

He alleged that the trio aided the first defendant (Chinweuba) to import the following fake drugs:

“Diclofenac BP 50mg (Diclosa 50), Coldtime Anti-Cold tablets, Sonidrex Tablet 50 mg, and Collcap (Chlopherniramine Maleate Capsules BP 4mg

The first defendant was alleged to have imported the said drugs contrary to lawful provisions with a plan to move them down to Kano

The offences contravenes the provision of sections 1(1) of the Food Drugs, and Related Products Registration Act, Cap F33 Law of the Federation. 2004.

The offence also contravenes the provisions of section 1(c) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisons) Act Cap C34, Law of the Federation 2004