58- year-old Ikenna Nne has been accused by the Lagos State Police
Command for engaging in the production of “large quantity of”
substandard drugs in the state.
Ikenna, however denied ever producing the drugs, accepting that he only repackaged then so they could look original.
Some of the drugs found in his possession comprise five large cartons
of fake Zentel tablets, thousands of packs of Zentel tablets and a
large quantity of printed packets for packaging Postinor tablets.
He confessed that though the goods were not produced by the real
manufacturers, they were still as effective as the original ones.
He said, “You can call the goods fake but they are effective. I use
the drugs and they work for me. I can even administer the drugs to my
children.”
While explaining how he got into the illegitimate business, the
suspect said he had worked as an engineer in a pharmaceutical company in
India.
“I repair machines for pharmaceutical companies and I’ve even worked
in a company in India before. I however do not produce the drugs.
“Some time ago, one Uche brought machines to my place for repairs but
after I had fixed them, he left them in my worskshop and he told me to
assist him in packaging drugs.
“For each drum of drugs I package, he pays me N20,000 while he pays
me N35,000 for using my place every month. I don’t market the drugs,
neither do I produce, I only package,” Ikenna said.
The suspect added that the drugs were imported from India and China.
He however denied ownership of the goods, claiming innocence.
He said, “I’m not the owner of the goods. The reason this large
quantity of goods were found in my possession is that I seized them
after Uche refused to pay me.
“I only put the goods in blisters; I don’t produce, neither do I market them.”
The Spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said the
suspect would be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control.
She said, “On March 15, 2013, at about 5pm, based on information, the
suspect, who is the owner and occupier of the premises situated at 5
Arochukwu Street, Ejigbo, has in his premises, machines for producing
counterfeit drugs.
“The Divisional Police Officer, Ejigbo, Inoma-Abbey, led a team of
operatives to cordon and search the premises and two packing machines,
one blistering machine and some cartons of fake drugs were recovered.
