Fake Gucci, Nike labels boosted Ogun shoe factory’s sales — Police

Suspects arrested over the alleged production of counterfeit footwear at a factory in Sagamu, Ogun State, have confessed that imitating foreign brands such as Gucci, Nike and Adidas generated higher sales and attracted more customers than products sold under Nigerian-made labels, the Police Special Fraud Unit has said.

The unit disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday following an investigation into the operations of Meibalun International Nigeria Limited, which allegedly manufactured and marketed footwear bearing the trademarks of international brands without authorisation.

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 presented itself as a Nigerian footwear manufacturer but allegedly produced shoes bearing the names and trademarks of Gucci, Nike, Timberland, Louis Vuitton, Adidas and other foreign brands.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the unit, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, said further investigations by the Stock Capital Market Fraud Section uncovered alleged financial irregularities in the company’s operations.

The police alleged that payments made by customers were diverted into private bank accounts rather than the company’s designated corporate account.

Investigators subsequently traced the ownership, movement and utilisation of the proceeds suspected to have been generated from the alleged unlawful activities.

The statement quoted the suspects as admitting that the use of imitated foreign brand names generated greater sales and market patronage than footwear marketed under Nigerian-made branding.

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“The suspects admitted that the use of imitated foreign brand names generated greater sales and market patronage for the company than products marketed under Nigerian-made branding,” the statement said.

The police said the admission strengthened the direction of the investigation and highlighted the commercial and financial structures allegedly sustaining the operation.

The Commissioner of Police, Police Special Fraud Unit, Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, said the unit’s mandate to combat financial crimes extended beyond conventional banking and investment fraud to commercial practices capable of undermining the integrity of the financial and business ecosystem.

Okpoziakpo assured the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally and in accordance with due process, adding that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.