A blogger, Adefela Adeigbe, has been arraigned by the police at the Ogun State Magistrate Court for alleged defamation against Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited’s product.
His arraignment followed an allegation of false information he published and publicised through his blog about the popular product, Cocosamba, and he was later arraigned in court.
The Police Prosecution Officer, ASP Solotan Kazeem, brought Adeigbe before an Ogun State Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate Somefun on a two-count charge of defamation.
Count 1: Read: That you, Adefela Adeigbe, on 08/08/2024 at about 1530 hrs in Ibafo, Ogun State, in the Obafemi Owode Egba Magisterial District, defamed one of Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited’s products, Cocosamba herbal mixture, on your blogger’s platform ‘Eko Mi Eko E’ and reposted on social media that the product “CAN KILL”, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Law of Ogun State.
Count 2 states, “That you Adefela Adeigbe on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned magisterial district conducted yourself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by publishing Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited’s product, Cocosamba herbal mixture, on your platform ‘Eko Mi Eko E’ and reposting on social media that the product “CAN KILL”, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 249 of the Criminal Code Law of Ogun State”.
Responding to the charges, Adeigbe, through his lawyer, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail pending further proceedings.
The arrest of Adeigbe may not be unconnected with a petition by the manufacturing company, Billion Go-Neat Global Limited, to the Commissioner of Police, Federal SARS, Adeniji Adele Lagos, over alleged defamation and spreading of false information against its products by some unscrupulous individuals.
The petition was signed by the Company’s Legal Representatives, Isaac Izunya (Esq) of Izunya Izunya and Co.
While speaking on the matter, Mr Oguntade Samuel Oluseyi, Manager of Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited, expressed concern over the dissemination of false information about the company’s product.
Oluseyi lamented that the company has recorded losses exceeding 5 billion Naira due to persistent misinformation spread about the Nigerian local manufacturing company, Cocosamba, over the past six months
He emphasised that Adeigbe’s case should serve as a deterrent and lesson to other junk journalists spreading fake news, reaffirming the company’s commitment to consumer safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
“The misinformation circulated by Mr Adefela Adeigbe and his co-travellers regarding Cocosamba is utterly false.
“Our product undergoes stringent quality controls and adheres to all regulations set by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).”