CRIME: NAFDAC ARRAIGNS THREE FOR MANUFACTURING FAKE DRUGS IN KANO

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Three individuals were brought before the Federal High Court in Kano on Friday by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for producing, distributing, and vending counterfeit medications intended for children.

Giddyson Healthcare Limited, Hillary Onah Chigozie, Alumona Okwiludili, and Amao Gideon are the suspects.

Prosecution attorney Oche Abutu, representing the Attorney General of the Federation in place of the Federal Government, hit them with a five-count indictment pertaining to the production of counterfeit drugs as well as the possession, distribution, and sale of fake medications when the case resumed on Friday.

The suspects, however, entered a not-guilty plea.

Then, their attorney requested that they be released on bail.

However, after hearing arguments from the defense attorney and the prosecutor, Justice Simon Amobeda denied the bail motion.

Amobeda scheduled the hearing for June 20 and the bail application for June 14.

Speaking to reporters, the agency’s director general, Mojisola Adeyeye, on behalf of Kasim Ibrahim, the Kano State Coordinator, disclosed that the syndicate has been involved in the production and distribution of a number of falsified medications, such as Asian Ampicillin 125 mg + Cloxacillin 125 mg/5 ml powder for oral suspension for children that contains zero active ingredients.

Others are Asian Ampicillin 125 mg/5ml powder for suspension for children active ingredient, Erythromycin 125mg/5ml powder for suspension for children – Zero active ingredient and Artil-Go (Artemether 20 mg+ Lumefantrine 120 mg/5ml) powder for suspension for children –Zero active ingredients.

Adeyeye noted that all the drugs were mere powders without any active ingredients required for healing or curing a patient.

“For clarity, from the NAFDAC Kaduna Laboratory Services testing, there is no trace of medicine in the formulations. This puts the patient in danger of treatment failure and possible death.

“In addition, the products were not registered by NAFDAC, the numbers on the products are fake, so is the manufacturer’s address on the label,” she added.

She disclosed that NAFDAC had sealed the illegal factory which was located in Tafa town, Tafa local Government area of Niger State.

Adeyeye said the illicit trade was uncovered following information and a discrete investigation that led to the arrest of the suspects.