Nigerian Businessman Charged with Importing Counterfeit Drugs

Paulinus Ejike Onuorah was arrested in May by NAFDAC agents at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja for allegedly bringing fake medicines into the country, reports the Nigerian Compass.

One of the counts against the businessman read, “That you Paulinus Ejike Onuorah at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, sometime on or about May 2010, imported fake drugs … and thereby committed an offence under the law.”

Onuorah pleaded not guilty to the charges and bail was set at $10 million Nigerian and two sureties. According to the court, sureties must be well-known men in Lagos who have means and landed property.

NAFDAC officials said that Onurah had violated Nigeria’s Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola presided over the proceedings in the Federal High Court in Lagos.