‘My Pikin’ Manufacturer Re-Arrested

There was a wild drama this morning at the premises of the Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, as the owner of Barewa Pharmaceutical company, the alleged manufacturer of adulterated baby teething mixture ‘My Pckin, Kola Okunola Ogungbade was arrested immediately after the court proceedings.

When the matter was mentioned in the court this morning, the prosecutor, Anthony Itoho, and the defence counsel, Kunle Kuti, adopted their written addresses in respect of the application filed before the court. The prosecutor had filed an application to file additional proof of evidence while the defence counsel opposed the application.

Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke adjourned the case till 9 March for ruling.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kunle Kuti had expressed fears that Mr. Ogungbade will be arrested as there were security agencies around the court premises to effect his arrest.

He, therefore, urged the prosecutor to give an undertaking that he will not be arrested. But the request was not granted. After the court proceedings,  immediately Ogungbade stepped outside the court, he was accosted by a plain clothes security agent from the enforcement unit of NAFDAC.

He was consequently whisked away in a pick up van.

The other two accused persons, Adeyemo Abiodun and Egbele Eromosele were not arrested.

About two years ago, the three accused persons and their firm, Barewa Pharmaceutical Company, were arraigned before the court for allegedly producing adulterated baby teething mixture called ‘My Pickin’

—Akin Kuponiyi