'My Pikin' Employees Re-Arraigned After MD's Death

Two employees and the firm producing the alleged killer teething mixture -My Pikin – Barewa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, have been re-arraigned before a Federal High Court Lagos, for alleged production and distribution of the adulterated medicine.

The accused, Adeyemo Abiodun, Ebele Eromosele and Barewa Pharmaceutical Company Limited were re-arraigned on Monday. They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the six counts in the amended charge.

The re-arraignment followed the amendment of the charge after one of the accused and Managing Director of the company, Mr. Kola Okunola, died in October.

Okunola, 67, was said to have died of stroke. His death necessitated the need to strike out his name from the charge and replace him with somebody else who would represent the company as an “alter ego” in the charge.




The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aminu Alilu, told the court that Eromosele had been appointed by the defence, to stand as the company’s alter ego.

The trial judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke, had after the arraignment allowed the accused persons to continue to enjoy the former bail conditions granted them after they were first arraigned on March 8, 2009

The counsel for the defence, Mr. Osaro Eghobamien (SAN), urged the court to ensure an accelerated hearing of the case because of Eromosele’s ill health.

Okeke therefore fixed the matter for February 25, 26, 27 and 28 for continuation of trial.

The teething powder, allegedly adulterated, was said to have killed about 80 children in 2009.

The prosecutor alleged that such distribution of adulterated drug contravened Section 1 (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous provisions) Act No. 25 of 1999 and punishable under section 3 of the same Act.