NAFDAC Arrests Brothers, Impounds N25m Fake ‘Alomo Bitters’

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has arrested two brothers, Henry and Ekene Ezeani for the illegal manufacture and sale of fake alcoholic beverage, "The Prince Alomo-Bitters." Operatives of the agency in Lagos impounded N25m worth of the product during the raid. A statement by NAFDAC's spokesperson in the state, Anslem Okonkwor, said the suspects were part of a syndicate that specialised in producing fake brands of beverages, which had been under the agency's surveillance. "A team of NAFDAC officials led by Mr. Joseph Asikpo apprehended them while they were producing the fake products in their residence at 140, Ojora Royal Compound, Coker Village in Lagos," Okonkwor said. It was learnt that Ekene had been arrested in 2012 for a similar offence but was released on bail. Henry was said to have admitted to being the owner of the business. Okonkwor said, "He said he learnt wine production from a company in South Africa, where he had worked before he was deported in 2011. "His excuse was that he needed money to establish a proper wine producing company of his own." The Director of Enforcement, NAFDAC, Mr. Garba Macdonald, told journalists that his officers had been on the trail of the suspects since the presence of the fake products was reported in markets across Lagos. Punch