The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday, re-arraigned a businessman Chukwunonye Madubuike, in a Federal High Court Lagos, for selling fake Emzolyn with codeine cough syrup.
The defendant was first arraigned on a one count charge of the offence, before Justice Babs Kuewumi, who has now been transferred to the Ado-Ekiti division of the court .
He had pleaded not guilty before Kuewumi.
On Thursday, the defendant was re-arraigned before a new judge, Justice Maureen Onyetenu, following Kuewumi’s transfer.
He also pleaded not guilty to the offences and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted by the court.
Meanwhile, Justice Onyetenu has fixed May 15 for substantive trial.
In the criminal charge signed by the prosecution counsel, Washington Adume, the defendant was alleged to have committed the offence on April 24, 2018.
He was alleged to have sold Emzolyn with codeine cough syrup at Sheraton Hotel in Akiti Avenue Lagos, which is a place not licensed or registered by the appropriate authority.
The prosecution said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 2(a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap C34, Laws of the Federation, 2004.