Tuesday, June 2, 2026 - A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar has sentenced a drug seller, Isidora Ezea, and three others to eight and a half years imprisonment each for operating unregistered pharmacy premises and illegally dispensing medicines.
The defendants were convicted in suit No. FHC/CA/76C/2025,
filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Ezea and three others over
violations of pharmacy regulations.
Delivering judgment on Monday, June 1, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu
found the defendants guilty on five counts bordering on operating pharmacy
premises without registration and dispensing drugs through unlicensed
personnel.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted them on three
other counts relating to the alleged unlawful unsealing of pharmacy premises
earlier shut down by regulatory authorities.
During the trial, the prosecution told the court that
officials of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) had sealed two
pharmacies operated by the defendants following a routine inspection and
enforcement exercise.
Evidence presented before the court showed that the premises
were later reopened and business activities resumed despite the regulatory
action.
Justice Ojukwu held that the prosecution failed to establish
the allegation that the defendants unlawfully broke the seals placed on the
premises. The court noted that officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) had authorised the reopening of the shops.
According to the judge, since the prosecution did not
challenge that evidence, the defendants could not be held criminally liable for
acting on instructions issued by law enforcement officers.
The court nevertheless observed that the pharmacies
continued to operate despite clear regulatory infractions and previous
enforcement actions by the Pharmacy Council.
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