A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted a trader, Elijah Chigbogu, and two pharmaceutical companies, Profile & Well Pharmaceutical Limited and God of Elijah Nigeria Limited, for possessing, importing and distributing unregistered drugs.
The defendants were convicted by Justice Musa Kakaki on Thursday after pleading guilty to a four-count charge brought against them by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
According to a statement by NAFDAC’s Director of Public Affairs, Christy Obiazikwor, obtained by Saturday PUNCH on Friday, the offences were committed on July 28, 2025, at the defendants’ business premises in Idumota and Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos.
The prosecution, led by NAFDAC counsel, Anita Madu, told the court that the defendants were found with several drugs described by the agency as fake and unregistered.
The drugs listed in the charge included Zanza Cyprodine, Calpol 200ml Suspension, Zirtek Allergy Relief, Candesartan 4mg tablets, Nicorette 4mg, Lisinopril 10mg tablets, Canesten Thrush 20mg, Anusol ointment and Gaviscon Double Action.
Others were Prolife Vitamin C, Gliclazide 80mg tablets, Amitriptyline 25mg tablets, Allopurinol 300mg tablets, Levothyroxine 50mg tablets and Dexazosin 2mg tablets.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants displayed the drugs for sale, imported them without the required registration and distributed them in violation of relevant laws.
The offences were said to contravene provisions of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act and the Food, Drugs and Related Products (Registration, etc.) Act.
At the arraignment, Madu asked the court to direct that the four-count charge be read to the defendants to enable them enter their pleas.
After the charges were read, the three defendants pleaded guilty to all four counts.
Following their pleas and the court’s review of the plea bargain agreement, Justice Kakaki convicted the defendants.
The court subsequently sentenced Chigbogu to a fine of N1.5m.
The prosecution had maintained that the defendants’ activities involved the unlawful possession, display for sale, importation and distribution of unregistered drugs.