Court convicts ‘My Pikin’ killer syrup makers, winds-up company

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Friday convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment, two employees of Barewa Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Adeyemo Abiodun and Ebele Eromosele.

The company and its employees were charged on an amended six-count charged of the production of a killer syrup, “my pikin.”

There was mild drama, midway into the judgment, as one of the convicts suddenly began to collapse.

Trial judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke in his judgment, convicted the accused on two counts, while he acquitted them of four counts.

The Judge accordingly sentenced the accused to seven years imprisonment each on the offence, while he ordered the company to be compulsorily wound up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government.

“The prosecution tendered several exhibits in the trial of the accused, but failed to lead evidence that the accused actually produced the adulterated drugs.

“I hereby find the accused not guilty of counts one, two, five and six, dealing with production and adulteration of drugs, while I find them guilty of counts three and four which is conspiracy and sale of the drugs.

“The accused are hereby convicted as charged” the court held.
Shortly after allocutus by defence counsel, the first accused Adeyemo Abiodun, suddenly started shaking and gradually began to collapse.

The judge then summoned the medical doctor in charge of the Federal High Court, who after examining the accused, confirmed he was hypertensive, and his blood pressure, very high.


Vanguard