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The Director of Mobilisation and Organisation of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) Chief Olisa Metuh has called for stiffer penalties for the production and distribution of fake drugs and adulterated consumer products, describing a five-year jail term or N5 million fine as grossly inadequate.
Metuh was reacting to Wednesday’s conviction of a businessman, Innocent Okoye, by the Federal High Court in Abia State for producing and distributing fake Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Okoye was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, with an option of N5 million fine.
Describing the sentence as a mere slap on the wrist, Metuh warned that such punishment could make counterfeiting and product adulteration a manageable business expense for unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors.
He said adulterated medicines, food, beverages, cosmetics and household products could cause serious illnesses, organ damage and preventable deaths, noting that unsuspecting Nigerians often bear the consequences of offences capable of affecting hundreds or thousands of people before detection.
“The law must respond with consequences that fit the crime,” Metuh said, arguing that the absence of direct physical confrontation between offenders and their victims does not make product counterfeiting any less dangerous than conventional violent crimes.
The lawyer urged the National Assembly to urgently review existing laws on drug counterfeiting, pharmaceutical adulteration and falsification of consumer products, with penalties reflecting the harm caused, offenders’ intentions, financial gains and degree of recklessness.
He called for substantially longer prison terms, including sentences comparable to those for grave violent crimes where offences result in death or serious injury, alongside fines proportionate to illicit profits and damage caused.
Metuh also advocated asset forfeiture, closure of offending facilities, compensation for victims, withdrawal of dangerous products from circulation and prosecution of corporate executives, manufacturers, importers and distributors who knowingly facilitate such crimes.
