The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Abia State chapter, has initiated a bill to Abia State House of Assembly, to enable it to prosecute product fakers at locations where the crime is committed.
Nnabugwu Chidi, chairman of FCCPC, Abia State, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the bill, when passed into law, would eliminate delays in prosecuting fakers and reduce product adulteration in Abia.
He argued that normal law court prosecution gives room for arrested fakers to manipulate security personnel and escape trial. He further observed that the escape of fakers after arrests have encouraged and grown the crime of product adulteration in Abia, especially Aba, the state’s commercial hub.
He explained that the commission was seeking to add more laws to enable the government to take over buildings, where fakers commit their crime, to discourage the scourge.
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“Some security agencies have been faithful to what we do. So, we are happy that the state government through the House of Assembly, is about doing something that will enhance our operations here”.
Chidi, who expressed joy over Abia State government’s commitment towards stopping product adulteration in the state, thanked Solomon Akpulonu, majority leader, Abia State House of Assembly who, according to him, has been working hard to ensure that the bill sails through.
He noted that the bill has gone through some processes and about to be concluded to strengthen their work.
“We’re making moves to ensure this happened and we are also mobilizing to inform everyone about the new move to safeguard innocent landlords and caretakers from becoming victims”, he stated.
Chidi affirmed that with the assistance of the attorney-general of Abia State, who is a member of the commission’s council, achieving the feat would not be hard.
“If fakers could fake an alcoholic drink sold for N100,000, which took the commission time to discover that it was faked, anybody could become a victim.
