Ogun court convicts Samson Okonkwo over fake Coleman electrical cables
- A magistrate court in Ogun convicted Samson Okonkwo for selling counterfeit Coleman electrical cables.
- Police said 317 coils of fake cables were tendered as exhibits during the trial.
- The police warned that substandard cables raise the risk of fires and electrocution.
A magistrate court in Ogun State has convicted a man, Samson Okonkwo, over counterfeit electrical cables sold under the Coleman brand, the state police command said on Monday.
The judgment was delivered on September 24, 2026, by Magistrate O. P. Mobee at the Magistrate Court in the Ojodu Abiodun Magisterial District, according to a statement by the command's spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi.
Okonkwo and other defendants said to be at large were arraigned on April 10, 2025, on four counts: conspiracy, forgery, unlawful possession and fraudulent sale of counterfeit cables belonging to Coleman Technical Industries Limited. The police said the alleged offences happened between January 24 and April 9, 2025, in Akute.
During the trial, the prosecution tendered 317 coils of electrical cables in packaging said to be counterfeit Coleman, and the court admitted them as exhibits. Okonkwo was convicted and sentenced under Section 3(3)(b) of the Merchandise Marks Act.
Why it matters for buyers
Fake cables are not a small matter for households and small businesses. The police said substandard electrical cables can cause electrical faults, fires and electrocution, putting lives and property at risk.
For anyone wiring a home, shop or office, the case is a reminder to buy from trusted dealers and to check products carefully. The command urged the public to be cautious when buying electrical products and to report suspected fake goods through the proper channels.
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun, Bode Ojajuni, praised the investigators and prosecution team. He said the command would keep investigating suspected counterfeiting and take offenders to court where there is enough evidence.
He also called for closer cooperation among law enforcement agencies, manufacturers, regulators and the public to spot fake products and protect consumers.
What happens next
The police did not say in the statement how long Okonkwo's sentence is, and the other defendants in the case are still at large. The command asked members of the public to keep reporting suspected counterfeit goods so they can be investigated.
