The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has secured a five-year prison sentence for a businessman convicted of producing and selling counterfeit Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Abia State.
The convict, Innocent Okoye, is the Managing Director of Chikason Industrial Nigeria Limited. He received the sentence after the court found him guilty on two counts involving the manufacture and distribution of fake olive oil.
Justice K. O. Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Umuahia delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
The court sentenced Okoye to five years in prison, with an option of a ₦5 million fine.
NAFDAC said the conviction followed an investigation that began after an enforcement operation by its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in April 2026.
During the operation, officials reportedly discovered a facility in Aba allegedly used to produce and distribute counterfeit Goya olive oil.
The agency arrested Okoye and recovered samples of the suspected fake products. It subsequently sent the samples to its laboratory for analysis.
The laboratory findings formed part of the evidence used in the investigation and subsequent prosecution, which resulted in the conviction on both counts.
NAFDAC Had Earlier Warned Against Fake Goya Olive Oil
The conviction follows a public warning issued by NAFDAC in January 2026 over counterfeit Goya olive oil circulating in Nigerian markets.
The agency had raised concerns about fake products packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles and presented to consumers as genuine imported olive oil.
During a media briefing in Lagos, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr Martins Iluyomade, disclosed that officials had uncovered an illegal production operation at Oke-Arin Market, Idumota, Lagos.
According to the agency, operators at the facility allegedly mixed palm oil with colouring agents before packaging the product as Goya olive oil.
Iluyomade explained that genuine Goya olive oil sold in Nigeria enters the country through approved distribution channels in its original glass bottles.
He therefore advised consumers to exercise caution when buying products carrying the Goya brand in PET plastic bottles, which the agency had identified as counterfeit.
NAFDAC Warns Nigerians Against Counterfeit Food Products
NAFDAC has warned that fake food products could expose consumers to harmful substances because manufacturers may use undeclared ingredients or operate under unhygienic conditions.
The agency urged consumers and traders to purchase regulated products from reputable outlets and carefully inspect their packaging before buying.
It also encouraged Nigerians to report suspected counterfeit products and illegal manufacturing activities to its offices or through official reporting channels.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to investigating food adulteration and prosecuting individuals and businesses involved in producing or distributing counterfeit and substandard products.
The agency said its enforcement efforts would continue to protect consumers and prevent unsafe food products from entering the Nigerian market.