Abia Businessman Jailed Five Years for Producing Counterfeit Goya Olive Oil

A Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, has sentenced a businessman, Innocent Okoye, to five years’ imprisonment for producing and distributing counterfeit Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Okoye, who is the Managing Director of Chikason Industrial Nigeria Limited in Aba, was convicted on two counts relating to the illegal manufacture and sale of the fake product. The judgment was delivered on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, by Justice K. O. Ogundare. However, the court gave him the option of paying a ₦5 million fine instead of serving the prison sentence.

The conviction followed an enforcement operation carried out by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in April 2026. During the operation, officials from the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate reportedly uncovered an illegal production facility in Aba allegedly used for manufacturing and distributing counterfeit olive oil. Okoye was arrested during the operation, while samples of the recovered products were taken to NAFDAC’s laboratory for scientific analysis. The laboratory findings subsequently formed part of the evidence used in the investigation and prosecution that led to his conviction.

The development comes months after NAFDAC warned Nigerians about the circulation of fake Goya olive oil packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles and sold as genuine imported products. In January 2026, the agency disclosed that its investigators had uncovered another illegal production facility at Oke-Arin Market, Idumota, Lagos. According to the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, operators at the facility allegedly mixed palm oil with colouring agents before repackaging the mixture as Goya olive oil. NAFDAC clarified that genuine Goya olive oil approved for sale in Nigeria comes in its original imported glass bottles through authorised distribution channels.

NAFDAC has urged consumers, traders and religious organisations to remain vigilant when purchasing food products and carefully verify their sources. The agency warned that counterfeit food products could contain undeclared ingredients or be manufactured under unhygienic conditions, potentially exposing consumers to health risks. It also encouraged members of the public to report suspected counterfeit products and illegal manufacturing facilities through its official reporting channels. The conviction reinforces the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat food adulteration, protect public health and ensure that individuals involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit goods are held accountable under Nigerian law.