In a continuous effort to crack down 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 offenses 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.
The suspect being taken into custody after his arraignment at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.
He also told the court that the defendant did engage in dealing and selling Hardex SN Gold SAE 5W-30 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil without lawful authority or license.
He told the Court that the offenses 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 offenses 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 offenses, and the Prosecutor asked for a short trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) until the determination of the charges.
However, Barrister Onah Chinedu, who represented the defendant ‘pro-Bono,’ asked the court for a short date to enable him to 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 a hearing of the bail application.
