A Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that Barewa Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of the deadly My Pikin Syrup, be wound up; and its asset forfeited to the federal government.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke also sentenced Adeyemo Abiodun and Ebele Eromosele, two employees of the company, to seven years imprisonment.The company and its employees were docked on a six-count charge of the production of a killer syrup, “my pikin.”
Delivering his judgement, the judge convicted the accused on two counts, while he acquitted them of four counts.
He accordingly sentenced the accused to seven years imprisonment each on the offence, while he ordered the company to be compulsorily wound up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government.
He said: “The prosecution tendered several exhibits in the trial of the accused, but failed to lead evidence that the accused actually produced the adulterated drugs.
“I hereby find the accused not guilty of counts one, two, five and six, dealing with production and adulteration of drugs, while I find them guilty of counts three and four which is conspiracy and sale of the drugs.
“The accused are hereby convicted as charged”.