Chief Olisa Metuh, a former politician and elder statesman, has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to introduce tougher punishments for people involved in the production and distribution of fake drugs and adulterated consumer products.
Metuh described a five-year prison sentence or a N5 million fine as inadequate, warning that such penalties would not effectively discourage individuals and companies involved in the dangerous business.
Metuh, who serves as the Director of Mobilisation and Organisation of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), made the remarks while reacting to the recent conviction of a businessman, Innocent Okoye, by the Federal High Court in Abia State.
Okoye was convicted on Wednesday for producing and distributing fake Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The court sentenced him to five years in prison, with an option of paying a N5 million fine.
Reacting to the judgment, Metuh described the punishment as a mere slap on the wrist, arguing that it could encourage offenders to see counterfeiting as an ordinary business risk rather than a serious criminal offence.
He warned that fake and adulterated products, including medicines, food, beverages, cosmetics and household items, pose serious dangers to public health and safety.
According to him, consumers who unknowingly purchase such products could suffer serious illnesses, organ damage and even death. He added that the activities of counterfeiters could affect thousands of people before the offences are discovered.
Metuh maintained that the punishment for producing and distributing dangerous products should reflect the level of harm caused to society.
He argued that the fact that counterfeiters do not physically confront their victims does not make their offences less dangerous than other serious crimes.
The politician therefore urged the National Assembly to urgently review existing laws dealing with fake drugs, pharmaceutical adulteration and the falsification of consumer products.
He called for longer prison sentences, particularly in cases where the activities of offenders result in serious injuries or loss of lives.
Metuh also advocated financial penalties that would be proportionate to the profits made from the illegal activities and the damage caused to victims.
Beyond imprisonment and fines, he recommended the forfeiture of assets acquired through counterfeiting, closure of factories involved in the production of fake products and compensation for affected consumers.
He further called for the withdrawal of dangerous products from the market and the prosecution of company executives, manufacturers, importers and distributors who knowingly participate in or facilitate such activities.
However, he stressed that introducing tougher laws would not be enough without prompt prosecution and consistent enforcement by relevant authorities.
“A five-year jail term or N5 million fine amounts to a mere slap on the wrist,” Metuh said, insisting that offenders must face consequences that reflect the danger they expose Nigerians to.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has already taken steps towards strengthening the country’s legal framework against counterfeit medical products and unsafe food.
In July 2026, the Senate passed the Counterfeit Medical Products, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Prohibition and Control) Bill, 2026, for second reading.
The proposed legislation provides for a 15-year prison sentence for offenders upon conviction, alongside asset forfeiture and compensation for victims.
It also seeks to strengthen the enforcement powers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in tackling the production, distribution and sale of fake drugs and other harmful consumer products.
The proposed law is expected to strengthen efforts to protect Nigerians from dangerous products and hold individuals and businesses involved in counterfeiting accountable.
READ ALSO:
- Ekiti Police Deny Sowore’s Kidnap, Say AAC Presidential Candidate Was Rescued After Restaurant Clash
- Armed Men Reportedly Kidnap Sowore In Ekiti, Vandalise Restaurant
- Femi Branch Receives Second Honorary Doctorate Degree From Benin Republic University
- Samson Adamu Makes History As First Nigerian To Become CAF General Secretary
- Nigeria Did Not Sell $700bn Mineral Assets To US, Dele Alake Clarifies
