Suspects arrested over the production of counterfeit footwear at a factory in Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State, have allegedly confessed that using fake foreign brand names helped the company attract more customers and increase sales.
The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, disclosed this on Wednesday while providing an update on its investigation into Meibalun International Nigeria Limited, a company accused of manufacturing and selling footwear bearing unauthorised trademarks of international brands.
The suspects were identified as Ojeleye Esther, Olulenu Adebola, Adewunmi Titilayo and two Chinese nationals, Zhu Hai Chen and Zhou Hai Fen.
According to the police, the company reportedly presented itself as a manufacturer of Nigerian-made footwear but allegedly produced shoes carrying the names and trademarks of popular brands, including Gucci, Nike, Timberland, Louis Vuitton and Adidas, without authorisation.
Related News:
Police Raid Fake Shoe Factory, Arrest Five Suspects In Ogun
Family Seeks Justice Over Alleged Assault in Ogun
Police Avert Planned Protest Over Prolonged Power outage in Ogun
The investigation also uncovered alleged questionable financial transactions, with the police claiming that payments made by customers were diverted into private bank accounts instead of the company’s designated corporate account.
The suspects reportedly admitted that imitating foreign brand names generated greater sales and customer patronage than marketing the footwear under Nigerian-made branding.
The Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, said the unit was committed to tackling financial crimes and other commercial activities capable of undermining the integrity of Nigeria’s business environment.
He assured the public that investigations would be conducted professionally and in accordance with due process, adding that anyone found culpable would face the law.
About the Author
