Some suspects who were apprehended by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force for operating a fake brewery where they allegedly produce malt and stout, have denied the allegation.
The suspects
Last Wednesday, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, led a team of policemen to a factory at Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, where a brewery was discovered, and at least five suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.
Yesterday, the five suspects, Otiko Onoriode (30), Otiko Ogheneovo (39), Esiekpe Benson (28), Diakpmerere Emmanuel (32) and Mrs. Diakpomerere, presented to journalists, denied the allegation.
While speaking to journalists during their parade by the Police, Onoriode claimed that it was their father, who was using the facility for the production of local gin before he relocated to the village, adding that they only produced local gin and had never produced stout or malt drinks.
He said: “It was after my father relocated to the village that my brothers and I took over the production of the local gin. I was not even around when others were arrested. I was called that they had been arrested. It was when I went to chemical.
"We then keep it for seven days, after which it would be ready. That is how we produce the local gin. It is the vapour that is coming out of heat that produces the gin. Our forefather has been producing the local gin for years. We produced it in Ondo and Delta states and other parts of the country.
"The production of the gin did not start from us. It has been on for long years. After we produced it, people used to come from various parts of the country to buy. We don’t produce malt and stout drinks.
"What looked like the malt is called molasis, which is a by-product of sugar, which we usually get from Dangote, Flour Mill and Bus Sugar to produce the local gin.”
Edgal said that forensic analysis of the recovered drinks was still being awaited. He added: “They are still waiting for the analysis of the products to ascertain where the products were being taken to for bottling and canning.”