The management of Nigerian Breweries, makers of Amstel Malta, has expressed its intention to contest the ruling of an Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, directing the company to apologise to one of its customers.
The court had ruled on a matter brought before it by one Professor Ernest Izevbigie, who claimed the company lied on the ‘Low Sugar’ inscription on the Amstel Malta brand.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Godfrey Airemen, said his client will take the matter to the court of appeal to overturn the lower court ruling.
Speaking with journalists last Thursday, Mr Airemen faulted the judgement, which he said his client would appeal against. According to him, the inscription on the Amstel Malta label was not misleading, as decided by the court in the judgment.
Mr Airemen, the Principal Partner of Airemen and Company, noted that, “I am glad that the court stated in the judgment that the sugar content of the product is within the range approved by the relevant regulatory agency, and that the information on the label was not deceitful.
“The inscription admits that the product contains a certain level of sugar. It does not imply that there is no sugar. Whether you choose low or lower sugar, it is a matter of semantics.
“My client is socially and legally responsible, with credible and verifiable operational standards. It cannot mislead its consumers and the general public. So, my client has decided to appeal against the judgement. This is the logical way forward.”
