News
NAFDAC uncovers warehouse stocked with banned imported soaps in Lagos
![](https://bodexng.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BANNED-MEDICATED-SOAP.jpeg)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has discovered a warehouse in Lagos stocked with imported banned Crusader soaps.
Speaking on Friday at a media conference in Lagos, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC director-general (DG), said investigation through the ports has shown that the banned Crusader soap was imported seven times in 2021 alone with each consignment containing 4,500 cartons of the soap.
Adeyeye said the importation of the soap into the country was banned by NAFDAC years ago because it contains mercury which has been identified as a health risk.
“Acting on intelligence, I&E directorate in August 2023 busted a warehouse in trade fair market, which was filled with banned imported soaps,” she said.
“Three trailer-loads of imported Crusader medicated soap and Mekako soap totalling 4,000 cartons by 12 packs by 12 tablet soap were evacuated from the warehouse, while some suspects were arrested in connection with the case.”
“The street value of the evacuated products is approximately N1 billion.
“Mercury and its compounds in cosmetics are a threat to public health. Mercury is readily absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream and exerts a debilitating effect on the vital internal organs of the body.
“The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global agreement, which was adopted in 2013 and entered into force on the 16th of August 2017.
“The Minamata Convention bans the sale of mercury-added cosmetics, including skin-lightening creams. After 2020, parties to the convention, including Nigeria which is a signatory to the convention, are required to have banned the manufacture, import and export of mercury-containing cosmetics products.”
Adeyeye said during interrogation, one Peter Obih (alias Ogbuagu), the prime suspect, claimed to have bought the product from a company.
She added that the suspect presented an expired NAFDAC certificate that was issued for local manufacturing of the product after the ban in Nigeria.
“It is to be noted that not one bar of the soap has been manufactured in Nigeria since the purported registration in 2013,” the NAFDAC DG said.
“The suspect claims to have just secured a contract manufacturing agreement with a local manufacturer but they are yet to commence production.
“The sample of the product was taken to our laboratory for analysis and was found to contain heavy metals identified as Mercury.
“The Crusader soap is falsely labelled, made in England to deceive Nigerians while the actual source is India.
“This act is an outright violation of the NAFDAC Acts and a contravention of the agency’s regulations, including the cosmetic products (prohibition of bleaching agents) regulations 2019.
“The arrested suspects will be charged to court while a manhunt is currently being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of this deadly syndicate.”
News
EFCC warns casino operators, real estate agents against money laundering
![](https://bodexng.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EFCC-freezes-over-300-accounts-linked-to-illegal-FX-trading.jpg)
The Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) money laundering.
Businesses referred to as DNFBPs include casinos, real estate agents, dealers in precious metals, dealers in precious stones, lawyers, notaries and other independent legal professionals.
Speaking during a one-day sensitisation programme organised by the special control unit against money laundering, (SCUML) for DNFBPs, Michael Wetkaz, director of EFCC in Lagos, said businesses should not create room for criminally-minded people to thrive.
“The financial institutions, to a large extent, have been regulated; and the issues of terrorism have been of great concern, globally,” he said.
”As a result, nations have tightened measures to ensure that the bad people have very limited space or even no space to operate, thereby helping to improve safety and security.
“But if you allow these criminal activities to pass through your businesses, it will worsen the insecurity situation in the country.”
He said the business operators should do their part and report financial activities that may threaten the security of the country.
“Please, do your part and report activities that you are obligated to report. We are doing our part to sensitize you,” he said.
“We are doing our part to sensitize you. We do this, so you know what we are supposed to do and you are not caught on the wrong side of the law. We should all work together to make it difficult for the bad actors.”
News
FRSC to clamp down on vehicles without speed limit devices
![](https://bodexng.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FRSC-to-motorists_-Resist-temptation-to-bribe-our-officers…-youll-be-prosecuted-if-caught.jpg)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, says it will start arresting drivers and impounding vehicles without speed limit devices in the state.
The FRSC Sector Commander, Mrs Joyce Alexander, said this at a news conference on Friday, in Awka.
Alexander said that records had shown that the majority of road crashes were caused by speed violations resulting in tyre bursts and loss of control.
She said the enforcement became necessary as drivers speed recklessly, overload their vehicles and transport people, animals and goods, regardless of the consequences.
“The policy thrust of the new Corps Marshall is to rejig operations, reassess and reevaluate them for better performance in Anambra.
“I want to put FRSC on a central map in Anambra, create impact and reduce road crashes and disobedience to traffic rules.
“We will commence minimal enforcement to achieve this. Motorists have been mandated to fix speed limit devices but some have not complied.
“We will start arresting defaulters and make them pay fines. We will insist they install the device before we release their vehicles,” she said.
The Sector Commander said a joint task force would be constituted in collaboration with other sister agencies to decongest and ensure sanity on the roads during the ‘Ember’ months.
She said the Corps would also work with the media to amplify public sensitisation and enlightenment on traffic regulations.
“We will be working with the state government to ensure the roads are motorable, obstructions removed and road signs installed in appropriate areas.
“The endgame is to have a situation where road users arrive at their destinations alive and safe,” Alexander said.
Deputy Corps Commander Jude Nnamani urged the public to cooperate with FRSC to reduce crashes in the state.
News
EFCC hands over 53 recovered vehicles, $180,300 to Canadian police
![](https://bodexng.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EFCC-hands-over-53-recovered-vehicles-180300-to-Canadian-police.webp)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over $180,300 recovered funds to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The commission also said 53 vehicles stolen from Canada and brought into Nigeria were recovered nationwide have been handed over to the Canadian police.
At the handover ceremony on Friday, Ola Olukoyode, EFCC chairman, said the recovered assets—which were stolen by wire fraud and romance scam—would be returned to the victims.
Out of the total sum, $164,000 was reportedly stolen from Elena Bogomas, a Canadian national, in a romance scam, while $16,300 was from one Sandra Butler.
“It is common knowledge that financial crimes have taken a new turn all across the globe. It has become a global problem,” Olukoyode said.
“What affects one country in a matter of time, will affect other countries. The people who perpetrate these crimes, they do it in such a way that we discover that their activities are quite borderless and boundless.
“They employ all kinds of means to ensure that they move across various jurisdictions. That’s why it has become very necessary and imperative for us to collaborate with our friends across the world. People share the same objective and mandate with us.
“The Canadian royal mounted police has been collaborating with us and the demonstration of that collaboration has resulted in a lot of recoveries.
“As an agency and as a country, we are always ready to fight financial crime. Nigeria shouldn’t be seen as a hub. It is also to demonstrate that the government of Nigeria will never tolerate acts of financial crimes.
“We have recovered money, financial assets, and also we have recovered vehicles on behalf of the victims in Canada. As a matter of fact, a total of 53 vehicles were recovered on behalf of the victims. Also, in one instance, we had $164,000 U.S. dollars given to a Canadian victim known as Eleanor Bogomas. And also, we have here, another sum of $16,000 U.S. dollars stolen from another victim known as Sandra Butler.”
Nasser Sadiou, liaison officer, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Robert Aboumitri, first secretary of the Deputy High Commission of Canada, were present at the event.
-
Crime7 days ago
NDLEA intercepts 31 million pills, bottles of opioids worth N17.9billion at Lagos, PH ports
-
Business2 days ago
CAC threatens to shut down unregistered PoS businesses as September 5 deadline lapses
-
Business6 days ago
Zenith Bank wins investor confidence in the ongoing rights issue and public offer with N1.00 interim dividend as PBT hits N727 billion in H1 2024
-
Health1 week ago
5 drinks that can damage the kidneys
-
Celebrities1 week ago
Wizkid paid me N10m to play Asake’s ‘Fuji Vibe’ at UK show, says DJ Tunez
-
Crime1 week ago
Lagos task force arrests 25 hoodlums over attacks on motorists
-
Politics5 days ago
Kenneth Okonkwo hits Nigerians for not protesting petrol price hike
-
World1 week ago
Canada ends visitor-to-work permit policy