Lagos — Barewa Pharmaceuticals Limited, producer of the alleged deadly My Pikin baby teething mixture, was yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for allegedly adulterating the product with intent to cause death and bodily harm to the consumers.

Daily Champion recalls that the contentious baby teething mixture, since last October, has allegedly claimed the lives of 84 babies so far, according to NAFDAC report.

Chief Executive of the company, Mr. Kola Gbadegbesin Okunlola, was docked yesterday with two other officials of the manufacturing outfit, Mr. Adeyemo Abiodun and Mr. Egbele Austine Eromosele, who were joined as second and third accused in the suit.

They pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge of conspiracy to cause death and bodily harm to the public and were remanded in Ikoyi Prison by the presiding judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke.

Earlier counsel to NAFDAC, Kingsley Ejiofor, had informed the court that the agency had a six-count charge against the accused persons and prayed the court to have the charge read to them and their plea taken, a prayer which the court granted.

Count one of the charge read: "That you, Kola Gbadegbesin Okunlola, Adeyemo Abiodun, Egbele Eromosele and Barewa Pharmaceuticals Limited of 1-5 Olugbo Close, Shasha Road, Akuwonjo, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court on or about October, 2008, manufactured an adulterated drug to wit: My Pikin Baby teething Mixture with the intent to cause death or grievous bodily harm to members of the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous provisions) Act No. 25 of 1999 and punishable under Section 3 of the same Act."

Meanwhile, the request by counsel to the accused persons, Osarho Eghobamien (SAN) for the court to fix a date to hear the accused persons' bail application which he intended to file later was dismissed by Justice Okeke who said he could not adjourn for an application that he was yet to see.

He subsequently adjourned to May 4 and 6 for hearing.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Paul Orhii, who was also present in court yesterday, told journalists that the agency was committed to the prosecution of the case, adding that it would be used to send a warning message to drug adulterators that the government would no longer condone them in the country.