SON ARRAIGNS FAKE LUBRICANT MANUFACTURER

In continuous effort to crackdown on substandard lubricants flooding the Nigerian Market and its core mandate enshrined by the SON Act 2015 which is safeguarding and improving lives through standards,the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) at the Federal High Court arraigned Mr. Solomon Oyumgbo arrested at the Aspanda Trade Fair International Market for cloning Harden Engine Oil which has been in circulation for months and suspected to be substandard.
Mr Solomon was arraigned before Justice Abimbola Awogboro on a four count charge.
The prosecutor, Mr. Yusuf Lawan, told the Court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on November 11, 2022, at Aspamda International Trade Fair, Lagos.
Mr. Lawan told the Court that the defendant deals in substandard engine oil named Hardex SN Gold SAE 5W-30, a fully Synthetic Engine Oil which did not conform with the mandatory Industrial Standard for synthetic lubricating oil for Motor vehicles NIS 1024:2018.
He also told the court that the defendant without lawful authority or licence did engage in dealing and selling of Hardex SN Gold SAE 5W-30 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil.
He told the Court that the offence committed by the defendant are contrary to and punishable under section 26(2) (b)(ii) of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, 2015.
He also said the offences contravened Sections 1(18)(a)(ii); 1(48)(a)(ii) and 1(17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the offences, and the Prosecutor asked for a short date for trial, and equally urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charges .
However, Barrister Onah Chinedu, who represented the defendant ‘probono’, asked the court for a short date, to enable him file the defendant’s bail application.
The lawyer also pleaded with the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID), Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos, till the hearing and determination of the bail application.
Justice Awogboro, in her bench ruling, ordered that the defendant be remanded in Force CID’s custody and adjourned the matter till May 5 ,2023 for hearing of the bail application.