April 25, 2018

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday adjourned until May 7 the trial of a 36-year-old
businessman, Nonso Udoye, charged with cloning production and registration logos of the Standards Organisation of
Nigeria (SON).

Udoye was arraigned before Justice Saliu Saidu on Feb. 25 on a 15-count charge bordering on forgery and counterfeiting.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

But following his failure to file his application for bail, the court had remanded him in prison and adjourned for trial.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Mrs Amaka Allen-Ngbale, announced appearance for the Prosecution, while Mr Ironsi Okoroafor
appeared for the defence.

Allen-Ngbale informed the court that she was ready to proceed with the trial.

Meanwhile, Okoroafor has told the court that he had just been briefed as the new counsel in the case and that he had yet to study
the proof of evidence, urging the court to grant an adjournment in his favour.

Although, the prosecution opposed the application for adjournment and described same as a ploy to delay trial, Justice Saidu,
however, adjourned trial until May 7 “in the interest of justice”.

The accused allegedly committed the offences on Nov. 7, 2017 at a warehouse located at No. 219, Borno Way, Ebute Meta,
Lagos, which was discovered by SON officials during a raid.

According to the prosecution, the accused forged the production registration seal of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria
which he impressed on imported products contrary to regulating laws.

In addition, the accused was alleged to have impressed the fake seal on 51 cartons of Chap Gas Refrigerants of 12 cylinders each
and 147 cartons of Nsnows Gas Refrigerants of 12 cylinders each stored in the warehouse.

The offences contravened the provisions of Section 465, 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation 2004 as wells
Sections 26(2), (b) and 26 (2), (b), (III) of the Standards Organization of Nigeria Act 2015.