BATN and Okonji were accused by the government of perverting the cause of justice by obstructing and impeding the police and PCCPC officials from execute a search warrant issued by Federal High Court in Abuja, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1662/2020, issued on December 29, 2020 and renewed on January 5, 2021.
PCCPC claimed that the defendants allegedly committed the offences at their Lagos office, located at their Lagos office, located at 2, Olumegbon Close Ikoyi.
Already the trial judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa has fixed July 16, for the arraignment of the defendants.
The charges against the Defendants read:
Count One: “That you British American Tabacco Nigeria Limited and Austin Okonji ‘M’ on Olumegbon Close Ikoyi Lagos State within about the 25th day of January 2021, at No. 2, Olumegbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did obstruct and impede access to the Authorised Officers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in the execution of a search warrant issued by an Order of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division made in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1662/2020 on 29th December 2020 and renewed on 5th January 2021, which Warrant was issued pursuant to Sections 2 and 29 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act. 2018 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 28(5) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 and punishable under the same Act.
“Count Two: “That you British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited and Austin Okonji ‘M’ on or about the 25th day of January 2021, at No. 2, Olumegbon Close Ikoyi, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did impede und obstruct Investigation by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission when execution of a search, warrant issued by an Order of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division made in Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/1662/2020 on 23 December 2020 and renewed on 5 January 2021, which Warrant was issued pursuant to Sections 27, 28, and 29 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection on Act, 2018 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 110 of the Federal Competition Consumer Protection and punishable under Section 110 of the Act.
“Count Three: “that you British American Tobacen Nigeria Limlted and Austin Okonji, on or about the 25th day of January 5 2021, at No.2 Olumeghon Close Ikoyi, Lagos State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court having a business and being an employee in the tobacco industry did hinder the police and Authorised Officers of the Federal Competition end Consumer Protection Commission under Section 20 (1)(a) and (f) of the National Tobacco Regulation, 20 9 in the course of carrying out their duties and thereby commited an offence contrary to Sections 32(4) of the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015, and punishable under Section 34 (1) and (2)(b) of the same Act”.
