Man admits importing fake fulcin tablets into Nigeria•NLRC gets tough on illegal lottery operators

A middle-aged man, Uzoma Madueke, has admitted
importing fake fulcin tablets into Nigeria.
Madueke made the confession at his arraignment
before Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in
Lagos by the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The offence, according to the one-count charge
signed by one, MHA Baba, was committed on June
25, 2009, at the Epe area of Lagos.
The one-count charge read: "That you, Uzoma
Madueke of No 47, Lagos Road, Epe, Lagos, within
the jurisdiction of this honourable court, on or about
the 25th day of June, 2009, did import fake and
substandard tablets to wit: Fulcin Criseofulvina
tablets and, thereby, committed an offence contrary
to Section 1 (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs
and Unwholesome Processed Food (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act No 25 of 1999 and punishable under
Section 3 (1) (a) of the same Act."
The charge sheet is with reference number FHC/
L/43C/ 2010.
The matter was earlier slated for judgment, but at
the last adjourned date, trial judge, Justice Abang,
hinted that the judgment was not ready.
The judge then fixed September 28 for judgment.
Meanwhile, As part of measures aimed at stamping
out illegal lottery operations from the country, the
National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has
commenced moves to halt media publicity for illegal
lottery operators, whom he accused of defrauding
Nigerians.
It is the belief of the commission that the media can
support it to further sanitise and rid the industry of
fraudsters.
The commission is currently pushing for media
houses to verify all lottery-related adverts and ensure
that only the adverts endorsed by the commission
are aired and published.
NLRC Director-General (DG), Mr Peter Igho, who was
at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), solicited
that the commission be assisted in monitoring the
prizes given out by operators, to ensure that the
prizes go to actual winners.
Igho also urged the media to investigate if an
operator gave out the prizes it promised before
reporting the news.
According to the DG, gone were the days when a
lottery operator would promise one thing and give
out another to the winners.
He stated that the commission was poised to sanitise
and bring integrity to the industry, by ensuring that
only registered and credible operators were involved
in lottery business.