By ‘Dayo Showemimo
Last week, Chocolat Royal on Etim Inyang Crescent in VI, Lagos a well known and heavily patronised bakery, ice cream shop and cafe was shut down by operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The raid was carried out on the basis of due diligence but the outfit was eventually sealed after contaminated and expired food products were allegedly discovered at the upscale centre located at Victoria Island.
Since the closure of Chocolat Royal, different theories and facts have been flying around and NET reached out to Chocolat Royal on the state of things and an official said the regulatory body truly found products that are incriminating.
The official, who spoke to NET on condition of anonymity, said: ‘Yes, NAFDAC came to us and truly they found some things which they seized but we are not arguing with them at all. We are fully cooperating with NAFDAC on the case.’
Many people are yet to come to terms with the shocking development and a report by City Reporters on how the NAFDAC team went further to the home of Amin Mousalli, the owner of Chocolat Royale and others, states: ‘On interrogation, the jittery cooks who identified themselves as John Gbokasa and David from Benin Republic confirmed to NAFDAC officials that the house belongs to Mr. Moussali and that the fake, unregistered and expired food products found inside the two cold rooms were for Chocolat Royal. I know that the products have expired, some, 2004, 2006, 2009, but I am a cook and I take instruction from my boss,’ David said.
‘Anytime they need some products to prepare edibles at Chocolat Royal, they come here with vans and mine is to give them the key to take whatever they want and after they finish taken the items, they will return the key to me,’ John added.’
