A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, fixed Jan. 15, 2014 for the commencement of trial of a 36-year-old Chinese, Hong Dong Shen, charged with the alleged theft and forgery of Mama Gold Rice brand.
The judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, adjourned the suit, in a bid to de congest the court, which he said had too many cases on its cause list.
He, therefore, ordered all matters slated for trial on that date, to be fixed for another date.
The accused was arraigned on July 29 on a four-count charge bordering on forgery, fraud, unlawful possession and stealing.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Yunusa had granted him bail in the sum of two million naira, with two sureties in like sum.
The judge had also ordered the accused to deposit his international passport with the court’s registry.
It would be recalled that the prosecutor, Mr Daniel Apochi, had told the court that the accused committed the offence between February 2011 and March 2013.
He said that the accused had forged the trade mark of Ollam Nig. Ltd., producers of Mama Gold Rice, and had fraudulently reproduced about 140 bags, for illegal sale to members of the public.
According to the prosecutor, the trade mark is valued at N200 million.
The alleged offence is said to contravene the provisions of Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004, as well as Sections 3 and 32 of the Merchandise Act, 2004.
Section 390(9) provides for a term of seven years imprisonment for the offence of stealing.
PunchNg
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