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Court Declines FG’s Request To Order Arrest Of Coca-Cola Chiefs

A request made by the Nigerian Government to a Federal High Court in Abuja for an order to arrest two Chief Executive Officers of the … Continue reading Court Declines FG’s Request To Order Arrest Of Coca-Cola Chiefs


Criminal justice

EkitiA request made by the Nigerian Government to a Federal High Court in Abuja for an order to arrest two Chief Executive Officers of the Coca-cola Nigeria and the Nigerian Bottling Company in order to put them on trial for criminal matters has been declined by the court .

The presiding judge, Justice Elvis Chukwu, however, granted the application for a substituted service on the accused persons for them to appear in court at the next adjourned date.

The two accused persons are  Chief Adeola Adetunji and Mr Ben Langat, the Managing Directors of Coca-Cola Nigeria LTD and Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) respectively.

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo moved the motion for the arrest of the two accused persons following their absence in court to answer criminal charges on issues bordering on alleged quality of their products.

The former minister, who is billed to prosecute the two accused persons along with their companies on behalf of Federal Government, told Justice Elvis Chukwu that the absence of the two men was a disobedience and disrespect for court.

He informed the court that Coca-cola Nigeria and the Nigerian Bottling Companies have been served with criminal charges while their Chief Executives were allegedly evading service. He then applied for substituted service on the accused persons in order to compel their attendance in court.

The judge adjourned the matter till Monday, November 10, for the accused persons to be served with criminal charges that would be pasted in their offices or company premises.

Meanwhile, the accused have also filed a preliminary objection against their trial and the appearance of Mister Bayo Ojo as prosecution.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke, had last week filed a one-count charge against NBC and its Managing Director and a two-count charge against Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive for  violation of product quality standard under the consumer protection council act