Man remanded for adulterating Total, Mobil lubricants at Navy Town

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday ordered for the remand of  Ibegbu Anayo, who was charged before the court  for alleged production and distribution of fake Total and Mobil automobile engine lubricants.

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had arraigned him on a 12-count charge of producing substandard engine oil labelled in the above mentioned brands.

Justice Aikawa ordered his remand in police custody till Tuesday 11th August for hearing of his bail application.

According to SON, Anayo and others now at large, on July 15, 2020, at Mammy Market, Navy Town, Ojo, “did indulge in the production of adulterated/substandard Total and Mobil engine oil lubricants for public consumption”.

The prosecution Counsel, Yusuf Lawan said the offence is punishable under Section 26(2) of the SON Act, 2015 as the alleged offence did not comply with the mandatory industrial standards for lubricants.

The action he also said does not comply with SON’s Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) for locally manufactured products, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26(2) of the SON Act.

Anayo he added, “did engage in the distribution of adulterated/substandard engine oil of Total, Mobil, Naris Gold brand and other lubricants without lawful authority or licence”.

SON said the defendant “did deal in” the products  and “did adulterate” petroleum products to wit: engine oil of various brands “which are not of the quality, nature and efficacy expected of the products.”

Count 7, of the charge stated that Anayo offered to sell the substandard products to unsuspecting customers.

Count 8 alleges that Anayo affixed false labels on kegs of various sizes and unbranded cartons and claimed they were genuine Total and Mobil engine oil, which was “calculated to deceive unsuspecting consumers that the products are genuine Total or Mobil products”.

The alleged offence is contrary to Section 3(1)(b) of the Merchandise Marks Act of 2004 and punishable under Section 3(3)(a) and (c).

Count 9 also reads: “That you Ibegbu Anayo and others now at large on or about 15th July
2020 at Mammy Market, Navy town, Ojo within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did apply a false trade descriptions of ‘Total and Mobil’ on various kegs of different sizes and unbranded cartons knowing them to be false, with intent that they may be used or acted upon as genuine”.

The prosecuting counsel who is also a Senior State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, said the alleged offence is contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act of 2004 and punishable under Section 467.

The defendant Anayo has however  pleaded not guilty to all the counts.