Court sentences woman to 8 years over illegal pharmacy in Calabar

A Federal High Court in Calabar has sentenced Ezea Isidora Kamchukwube to eight years imprisonment for running illegal pharmacies. The court convicted her on charges of operating unregistered pharmacies and permitting unqualified persons to dispense medication, contravening the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu found Kamchukwube guilty of operating "24 Hours Pharmaceuticals" on Marian Road and another shop on Abang Asang Street. The judge highlighted that Kamchukwube practiced as a registered pharmacist without proper registration, violating Section 32(2) of the Act. Officials had previously sealed the shops, but Kamchukwube reportedly reopened them and continued operations.

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That you, Ezea Isidora Kamchukwube, Female, adult, businesswoman, did practice in the capacity of registered pharmacists, vendors and pharmaceutical representatives while not being registered contrary to Section 32(2) of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2022.

The court's decision also cited violations of Sections 54(1), 54(2), and 53(d) of the Act. Aliyu Okayode, representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stated that the judgment serves as a crackdown on unregistered pharmaceutical operations. He confirmed that the court found Kamchukwube unregistered and imposed the sentence for non-compliance. The defendant's counsel declined to comment on the case.

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The charges of practising pharmacy without proper registration and license under the law were brought against her. That is why we are here. That is the charge before the court. We were able to establish before the court that she was indeed unregistered. And the court sentenced her for not complying