An Edo High Court in Benin on Tuesday fixed June 28 for continued hearing in a suit filed by Ernest Izevbigie, against the Nigerian Breweries Plc over alleged deception.
Justice Esohe Ikpomwen, the Chief Judge of the state, adjourned the case till the date for the defendant to opens his case.
Mr Izevbigie, a professor of Biochemistry, had accused the company of allegedly inscribing misleading information, “low sugar,” on the can of one of its non-alcoholic drinks, Amstel Malt.
The case was filed through the claimant’s lawyer, Okonkwo Emmanuel, of Henry Idahagbon and Co. (Trinity Chambers).
Mr Emmanuel said that a laboratory investigation revealed that the product contained more sugar than the company claimed in the inscription on the brand.
He urged the court to order the company to tender a written apology to his client as he had been injured by the alleged deception.
Mr Izevbigie prayed the court to pronounce that the inscription on the product is misleading to the public.
According to him, during a medical check-up he recently undertook it was discovered that he had an increase in his blood sugar level.
The claimant said that the increase in his blood sugar level was traced to his regular intake of the malt drink.
Mr Izevbigie, during cross-examination by L. O. Ogiefere, counsel to the defendant, told the court that Amstel Malta did not merit the “low sugar” label, as proved by a clinical research.
According to him, the drink contained 10 cubes of sugar as against the 10 and a half to 10 and one-quarter cubes contained in other malt drinks.
