House C’ttee Probes SON over Seizure of Certified Products
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petition has launched investigation into alleged seizure of manufacturing machines and finished products belonging to D and K Golden City Investments Limited in Anambra State by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
It further expressed concern over the failure of the standards agency to appear before its members over the matter.
The company, in its petition to the House, accused SON of refusing to comply with the orders of the Federal High Court, Awka, dated February 27, 2011, and December 8, 2014 in suit numbers FHC.AWK/ CS/37/2011 and 1269/2014 to release the seized items.
According to a representative of D and K Golden City Investments Limited, Mr. Chike Onyeali, the petition is in defence of illegal activities of SON against manufacturing companies in the country.
He said on December 21, 2016, SON officials invaded the company’s premises located at kilometre three Onitsha-Owerri road, Obosi,Anambra State and carted away manufacturing machines, raw materials, 1,895 cartons of Dorco disposable shaving stick and 1, 520 Best Clean tooth brush.
He expressed worry that the items were carted away under the guise of being fake and substandard products.
Onyeali, while condemning SON’s action, said the seized products had quality certification on them.
“SON based its action on the pretence that it is midwifing certification standard in Nigeria when in actual fact they lack the competence and expertise to run those test indices for which they sent us to Intertek Offshore, who are experts in parameter testing.
“We have taken our products to Intertek, they have examined them, issued result and directly sent it to SON, but SON overlooked it.
“But since they have declined to be here, we have closed our case and made a formal application that a subsisting order be made in our favour that they proceed forthwith to unseal the company premises which SON sealed since 2016 with employee of over 200 staff,” Onyeali said.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, said the committee would go ahead to close the case due to nonappearance of SON on the matter.
He said: “It is unfortunate that SON will continue to impugn and disrespect the subsisting orders of the National Assembly.
“This appears to be the ninth sitting on this matter and each time they have deliberately whittled down the supervisory indices of the House and this appears to be very embarrassing and they cannot be taking the National Assembly for granted.