Calls for Stricter Penalties Following Fake Product Conviction in Abia State

The Federal High Court in Abia State convicted a businessman for producing and distributing fake Extra Virgin Olive Oil, sentencing him to five years imprisonment with an option of a N5 million fine. Reacting to the judgment, Olisa Metuh urged the National Assembly to prescribe stiffer penalties, including asset forfeiture, for the production and distribution of fake drugs and adulterated consumer products.

Olisa Metuh argued that the current punishment is inadequate and that weak sanctions could encourage unscrupulous manufacturers to treat counterfeiting as a standard business expense. He noted that fake products pose serious dangers to public health, affecting consumers.