Coleman Nigeria: Urges Stronger Counterfeit Cable Prosecution

• Coleman Technical Industries Limited has urged stronger penalties and criminal prosecutions for manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit and substandard cables in Nigeria.
• The company's MD/CEO, George Onafowokan, criticized the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for insufficient enforcement and a perceived focus on testing fees over prosecuting offenders.
• Coleman is actively collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force and has incurred significant costs in investigations and laboratory testing of suspected adulterated cables.
• A pending legal case could establish a precedent as Nigeria's first conviction and jailing specifically for cable adulteration.
• Executives emphasized that weak enforcement and inadequate penalties encourage the highly profitable illicit trade, which poses severe risks like fires and endangers lives.

This pending legal action holds significant implications, potentially marking the first instance in Nigeria where an individual faces conviction and imprisonment specifically for cable adulteration, thereby setting a crucial precedent for future enforcement.

Coleman Technical Industries Limited (CTIL) has issued a strong call for more stringent penalties and increased enforcement against manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit and substandard electrical cables across Nigeria. George Onafowokan, the company's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, highlighted that the current weak enforcement mechanisms are inadvertently fueling the growth of this illicit trade. His remarks followed a media tour of Coleman's manufacturing facilities located in Sagamu, Ogun State, where the critical issue of product counterfeiting was a central discussion point.

Onafowokan underscored the severe risks posed by substandard cables, which are prone to causing fires and endangering lives. He argued that merely confiscating and destroying counterfeit products, without pursuing criminal prosecutions against those responsible, fails to act as an effective deterrent. This stance emphasizes the need for a robust legal framework and proactive enforcement to protect both genuine manufacturers and the safety of consumers from the dangers associated with adulterated electrical components.

The CTIL chief specifically questioned the Standard Organisation of Nigeria's (SON) enforcement efforts, suggesting that the regulator has not adequately pursued criminal sanctions against counterfeiters. Onafowokan alleged that SON sometimes prioritizes charging manufacturers for cable testing services over collaborating with relevant agencies to prosecute individuals involved in product counterfeiting. He advocated for SON to strengthen its enforcement capabilities to better safeguard legitimate businesses and the public.

Drawing a parallel, Onafowokan suggested that Nigerian regulators should emulate the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which has intensified its enforcement actions against counterfeit pharmaceutical products. He articulated that without meaningful consequences, offenders are simply inconvenienced rather than deterred, stating that merely removing illicit products from shelves does not brand the perpetrator as a criminal, thus encouraging repeat offenses. This perspective highlights a perceived gap in the current regulatory approach to product counterfeiting law Nigeria.

Coleman Technical Industries Limited is not merely advocating for change but is actively involved in combating cable adulteration. The company has been collaborating extensively with the Nigeria Police Force, including the office of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, and various zonal and state commands, to tackle the pervasive issue of cable counterfeiting. This partnership demonstrates a concerted effort to bring offenders to justice and enhance SON enforcement counterfeit cables Nigeria.

Furthermore, Coleman has incurred substantial costs in supporting these investigations, which include comprehensive laboratory testing of suspected adulterated cables. The company is currently awaiting the resolution of a significant legal case. This pending legal action holds significant implications, potentially marking the first instance in Nigeria where an individual faces conviction and imprisonment specifically for cable adulteration, thereby setting a crucial precedent for future enforcement.

The profitability of counterfeit cables is a major driver of the illicit trade, as these products are manufactured using reduced quantities of inferior materials but sold at prices comparable to genuine items. George Onafowokan noted that substandard cables can contain 30 to 40 percent less material in length, allowing counterfeiters to reap excessive profits while exposing consumers to significant risks. This economic incentive underscores the urgency for robust Nigeria substandard cable sanctions.

Beyond enforcement, Coleman executives are also calling for legislative reform. Mr. Ilori Sanusi, the Chief Operating Officer, urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to review existing laws to ensure that penalties for counterfeiting are commensurate with the gravity of the offenses. He stressed that inadequate punishment only emboldens offenders, necessitating stronger deterrents. Michael Onafowokan, Coleman's Executive Director, added that counterfeiting is increasingly occurring within Nigeria's borders, not just through imported goods, further emphasizing the need for comprehensive local enforcement and government support for local manufacturers under the 'Nigeria First' policy, a strategy from which Coleman Technical Industries Limited has already benefited through local-content opportunities in the oil and gas and telecommunications sectors.

This development signals a potential increase in enforcement actions and criminal prosecutions against manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit and substandard cables in Nigeria, requiring businesses to review their supply chains and compliance frameworks to mitigate legal and reputational risks. Lawyers should advise clients on enhanced due diligence and potential liabilities under existing and future anti-counterfeiting laws, particularly given the mention of a pending case that could set a precedent for jailing offenders.

Source: Reporting based on Punch Newspapers coverage.