"My Pikin" Manufacturer Jailed,Faints In Courts

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has welcomed Friday’s court ruling, sentencing principal officials of the drug company behind the deaths of about 84 children who took a contaminated teething mixture.

Assets of the Lagos-based pharmaceutical company Barewa were also ordered forfeited to government, according to ruling by a Federal High Court judge, Okechukwu Okeke, in Lagos.

Two Barewa executives, production manager Abiodun Adeyemo and quality assurance manager, Ebele Austine Eromosele were sentenced to 14 years on two separate counts, reports said from Lagos.

The 14-year jail term and confiscation of assets of Barewa is a landmark in NAFDAC’s bid to deal with counterfeiters.

 “It is the first time we have ever secured that kind of conviction,” said the agency’s Director-General, Paul Orhii in his Abuja office when he heard the news.

He spoke during talks with Beverly Corey, the US Food and Drug Administration’s senior regional advisor, in Abuja.

Barewa’s teething mixture 'My Pikin' was concluded to have been contaminated.

The manufacturer used 'diethylene glycol' in place of 'propylene glycol' in the product, said the NAFDAC head.

Sweet harm

Diethylene glycol is an ingredient in antifreeze and brake fluid but also used as industrial solvent.

Propylene glycol is harmless and sweet, used in a wide range of medicines and foods, but also more expensive than diethylene glycol.

Counterfeiters and chemical dealers push up their profits by selling the cheaper diethylene glycol as propylene glycol, according to NAFDAC.

Diethylene glycol causes damage to the liver and kidney, attacks the central nervous system and causes paralysis that hampers breathing.

Concern about handling of chemicals has since prompted NAFDAC to set up a chemical committe.

Orhii spoke of concern that “chemicals used in large quantities are handled by people who know nothing at all about them."

Barewa’s owner, Gbadegesin Okunlola died in 2011, forcing NAFDAC to amends its suit against the company.

Abiodun is reported to have fainted at hearing the guilty verdict in court. “The judge had to call in the federal medical doctor of the court to come and attend to him,” reported PM News.

“It was after his health was stabilised that the judge continued with his judgement.”