Justice Friday Ogazi of a Lagos Federal High Court, today, fixed July 3, 2024, the trial of two businessmen, Ike Afam and Onyechi Izuchukwu Steve, who were charged before the court for Counterfeiting X-pression hair attachment.

The two Businessmen were arraigned before the court yesterday, by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), on charges bordering on alleged conspiracy, repackaging, dealing, and possession of the said counterfeit hair attachment.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Barrister Yusuf Lawan, an Assistant Chief State Counsel, Federal Ministry Of Justice, said to be contrary to and punishable under sections 516 of the Criminal Code Act, cap C39 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Sections 1(18)(a)(ii) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

And sections 3(1)(b): 3(2) and 1(1)(a) of the Trade Malpractices (Miscellaneous Offences) Act, Cap T12 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 1(1)(h) of the same law.

They had denied and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Ogazi fixed the trial date today, after delivering ruling on the from businessmen’s bail applications, which were moved by their lawyers.

Parts of the bail granted the two businessmen includes: a bail sum of N1.5 million with one surety each.

The surety, according to the judge, who must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 8 in the employment of Lagos State or Federal government. Or a landed property owner with Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) within the court’s jurisdiction. And many others.

The prosecutor while arraigning the two defendants who are traders at the popular Balogun market, Lagos Island, Lagos, informed the court that they were arrested with the counterfeited ‘Rich Braid’, a brand of X-pression hair attachment, at the market on December 2, 2022.

Yusuf, an Assistant Chief State counsel, Federal Ministry Of Justice, also the court that the two businessmen, imprinted ‘false’ trademark to X-pression hair attachment (Rich Braid) to the counterfeited hair attachment, the action which was calculated to deceive the buyers that they are genuine X-pression hair attachment.

The prosecutor informed the court that the illegal acts of the two businessmen is misleading or likely to create a wrong impression as to its character and composition of the X-pression hair attachment.

The two defendants denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Speaking on the arraignment of the two businessmen, Prince Azubuike Onyekwelu, who is the Company Secretary of Solpia Nigeria Limited, the manufacture of X-pression, commended SON for the defendants’ arrest.

He said that with the collaboration of SON, there is no more hiding place for fakers of X-pression products. Adding that the company has spread its dragnet nationwide to capture unscrupulous persons engaged in adulterating the product.

Prince Onyekwelu advised them to look for another business as anybody caught must be diligently prosecuted. While emphasised that X<pression remains the best hair attachment in Nigeria.

He also said that the company has assured its numerous customers to maintain their confidence in the product, which he described as ‘King of Hair Attachments’.