201,600 tins of fake Kiwi shoe polish worth over forty-two million naira have been destroyed by fire in Awka, Anambra State.
This
followed an order of the Federal High Court, Awka presided over by Justice
Bature Gafai on the 18th of April, this year, that the fake products be
destroyed through burning before the public.
The counterfeit
products were moved from the custody of the Federal High Court to the site
where they were destroyed in full public glare.
Speaking during
the exercise, Counsel to the owner of the Franchise to import original Kiwi
Polish, Barr Tagbo Anaeto revealed that the fake products were imported by
traders at Main Market, Onitsha under a corporate name, adding that the
destruction is to serve as a deterrent to others in the illegal business.
He said, “The
court had also slammed punitive actions against the illegal importers which
include the seizure of their property, cost of damages to the tune of two
million naira which was paid to the courts as well as the public destruction of
the counterfeit goods”.
Acknowledging
a significant reduction in the faking of the product, Barr Anaeto said it is an
ongoing exercise and will be sustained until the markets are rid of fake Kiwi
products.
The owner of
the franchise for the products, Chief Sam Anyanwutaku commended the judiciary
for the judgement which he noted, will help end the efforts at economic
sabotage by the illegal importers.
He also
expressed appreciation to SC Johnson, manufacturers of the product, the Police
and the media for their support to the war and observed that it is already
yielding results as the counterfeit products are no longer sold in the open market.
The order
was carried by bailiffs of the court, under the supervision of officials of
relevant regulatory and law enforcement agencies.
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