EFCC Operatives
Oil Adulteration:
EFCC Operatives
Oil Adulteration: EFCC Hands 26 Suspects to NAFDAC in
Gombe
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Gombe Zonal
office has handed over 26 suspects arrested for production and sale
of adulterated palm oil in Gombe, to the National Agency for Food
Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
The suspects Yahaya Sanusi, Mohammed Abubakar, Nasiru Bappa,
Bello Ahmed, Emeka Oppah, Theophilus Samuel, Auwalu Abubakar,
Monday John, Chindo Garba, Mohammed Umar, Dauda Mohammed, Anas Musa
C, Umar Friday, Abbayo Musa, Hamisu Mohammed, Ali Garba, Inuwa
Auwal, Tukur Adamu, Ahmad Usman, Emmanuel Etuk, Auwal Iliya, Ejike
Samuel, Peter Ndubuisi, Babangida Yerima, Giginna Alphonsus and
Usman Musa were picked up October 17 in Gombe market. They
allegedly adulterated palm oil with unknown substance before
selling same to unsuspecting members of the public as genuine.
Speaking on the arrest on Friday October 18, 2019, the head of
EFCC Gombe Zonal office, DCDS Michael Wetkas, told journalists that
the Commission acted on an intelligence report, adding that the
some of the suspects were in the process of mixing palm oil with
the said substances when they were apprehended. A total of 33 shops
were sealed during the operation.
He disclosed that the Commission has informed the National
Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC about the
arrest as issues of food adulteration and unwholesome products fall
within the purview of the agency.
Before handing over the suspects and the keys to the sealed
shops to NAFDAC officials, DCDS Wetkas called on the public to
partner with the Commission to rid the market and Gombe State of
unwholesome products to protect the health and wellbeing of the
people.
Receiving the suspects, the Gombe State Coordinator of NAFDAC
who was represented by Laras Jatau, Assistant Chief Regulatory
Officer, expressed surprise at the arrest, noting that his agency,
especially during World Food Day, had been educating the people on
the hazards of deliberate adulteration of food products.
“It is really disturbing that after such lectures, someone will
still go ahead to do a thing such as this; this is crime against
humanity”, he said.
Jatau however pledged that NAFDAC will not relent in its
sensitisation efforts and surveillance across the markets in the
state.
He assured that the suspects would be handed to the agency’s
investigative arm, for further investigation.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity