A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has convicted and sentenced a businesswoman, Ezea Isidora Kamchukwube, to two years in prison for operating unregistered pharmaceutical premises and illegally practising as a pharmacist.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, was given in absentia after the court found the defendant guilty on multiple counts relating to violations of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022.
Court documents showed that the offences were committed in August 2024 within Calabar, where Kamchukwube was accused of running two pharmaceutical outlets without proper registration or authorisation from the regulatory body.
The outlets were identified as “24 Hours Pharmaceuticals” located along Marian Road, and another shop situated opposite Kokoz Cosmetics Shop on Abang Asang Street, Etta Agbor Road.
The court ruled that the defendant operated both premises without registration and also engaged in the practice of pharmacy without being licensed or qualified to do so, in clear violation of the law.
Prosecuting counsel and Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Aliyu Okayode, said the prosecution successfully proved that the defendant was neither registered as a pharmacist nor authorised to run pharmaceutical services.
“You know, it’s a case of an individual operating pharmaceutical premises without registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria as required by law. And also working as a qualified pharmacist when she’s not qualified,” he said.
He added that the court found her guilty on five separate counts, including illegal operation of pharmaceutical outlets, unlawful dispensing of drugs, and breach of regulatory enforcement actions.
Further revelations during the trial showed that she allegedly dispensed medicines without valid certification and operated outside the legal framework established by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
The prosecution also accused her of interfering with regulatory enforcement after allegedly breaking seals and locks placed on one of her outlets by the Pharmacy Council during earlier enforcement actions.
According to Okayode, the court imposed a two-year jail term, with provisions for enforcement if the convict is located.
“The punishment ranges from two years imprisonment to options of fine. There’s a directive for us to look for her anywhere she is and hand her over to the correctional centre to serve her sentence,” he stated.
The court further declared the convict wanted and ordered security agencies to arrest and transfer her to correctional custody upon sighting.
Counsel to the defendant, Ekpe Esor, declined to comment on the ruling and did not speak to journalists after the proceedings.
