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| ‘My Pikin’ Teething Mixture |
The witness, Momodu Segiru-Momodu, was giving evidence at the resumed hearing of a suit against Barewa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, charged with the production of an alleged killer teething syrup, “My Pikin”.
Mr Segiru-Momodu is the Director of Chemical and Evaluation Research, National Agency for Food Drugs, Administration and control (NAFDAC).
Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Aminu Alilu, the witness told the court that on January 2009, at the Yaba office of NAFDAC, he received a sealed package, containing samples of ‘My Pikin’ teething mixture with batch number 02008.
He said at that time, he was Deputy Director in charge of laboratory, as so took the samples for analysis.
Mr Segiru-momodu told the court that the samples were analysed in line with slated procedure involving microbiological and physiochemical assays.
He said that after the analysis, the product was found to contain a contaminant called “diaethylene glycol”
According to the witness, the samples were again taken to the NAFDAC central laboratory at Oshodi for confirmation by a qualitative and quantitative estimation of the products.
He said that at Oshodi, an advanced analytical technique was employed using an instrument called “gas liquid chromatograph”.
“The result of the analysis at the Oshodi central laboratory proved to be the same with that conducted at Yaba.
“As a result, we came to a conclusion that “My Pikin” baby teething mixture, was contaminated with diaethylene glycol” he said
The witness told the court that “diaethylene glycol” is a toxic substance which is unacceptable in food or drug preparation.
“Diaethylene glycol belongs to a group of substance called glycol with four glycol having common characteristics which are closely related.
“They include: diaethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol.
“The first two, are sweet and deadly while the last two are sweet and harmless.
“Some dubious elements engaged in drug counterfeiting, now sell the harmful substance, “diaethylene glycol”, as glycerol and propylene glycol” he said.
He said that due to the mishap caused by drug counterfeiting, drug agencies all over the world, have provided for screening and fingerprinting of drug preparations.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke adjourned the case to April 24 for continuation of hearing.
Barewa Pharmaceutical Company Limited was re-arraigned in January 7, due to the amendment of the charge before the court, in which the name of the company’s alter ego, Kola Gbadegeshin (now deceased) had been struck out.
The company and its management had however pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail by the court.
The prosecutor had informed the court that the second accused Mr Eromosele had been appointed by the defence, to stand in place of the company, since the first accused was now deceased.
Justice Okeke therefore struck out the former charge reflecting the name of the deceased and the remaining accused were arraigned on the amended charge.
He also allowed the accused persons to continue with their former bail condition.
“My Pikin” teething syrup was alleged to have killed over 80 children in the country.
The prosecutor had said that the offences contravened Section 1 (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and unwholesome processed foods (Miscellaneous provisions) Act No. 25 of 1999.
Upon conviction, an accused is liable to a fine not exceeding N500, 000 or imprisonment for a term not less than five years or more than 15 years, or to both fine and imprisonment.
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