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 in violation of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, who sentenced the convict in absentia, delivered the judgment after finding the defendant guilty on multiple counts bordering on the unlawful operation of pharmaceutical outlets without registration and dispensing medicines without the requisite qualifications.
The charges, filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Charge No. FHC/CA/76C/2025 stemmed from offences allegedly committed in August 2024 in Calabar.
According to court documents obtained by our Correspondent on Monday, Kamchukwube operated two pharmaceutical outlets, one known as 24 Hours Pharmaceuticals, located along Marian Road and another situated opposite Kokoz Cosmetics Shop on Abang Asang Street, Etta Agbor Road, without registration or authorisation from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
The court also found that the convict practised in the capacity of a pharmacist despite not being registered or licensed by the regulatory body, contrary to provisions of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022.
Prosecuting counsel and Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, Aliyu Okayode, told journalists after the proceedings that the prosecution successfully established that the defendant was neither registered as a pharmacist nor authorised to operate pharmaceutical premises.
“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,” Okayode said.
He added that the court found her guilty on five counts related to operating without registration and violating the provisions of the Act.
Further charges revealed that the defendant knowingly dispensed medicines without holding valid licences as a pharmacist and allowed pharmaceutical services to be rendered outside the legal framework established by the council.
The prosecution also accused her of tampering with enforcement measures imposed by regulators, including breaking the seal and lock placed on one of the premises by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
Okayode disclosed that the punishment imposed by the court included a term of imprisonment, noting that authorities had been directed to ensure the enforcement of the sentence.
“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.
In addition, the court declared the convict wanted and ordered security agencies to arrest and hand her over to correctional authorities whenever she is apprehended.
Counsel to the defendant, Ekpe Esor, declined to comment on the judgment and did not address journalists after the proceedings.
