According to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Obinna Igbo has been arrested for allegedly importing a fake malaria drug called Amanta Forte.
On Monday, the agency’s resident media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, released a statement announcing the suspect’s arrest, a 32-year-old businessman.
The suspect who imported the unregistered product, according to Akintola, was also charged with four counts before Justice Tijani Ringim of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Illegally importing, possessing, selling, and distributing fake Amanta Forte soft gel (Artemether 80mg + Lumefantrine 480mg Capsules) at Head Bridge Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, are the charges.
It was discovered that after importing the fake drugs into the country, the accused person sold them at Shop E200, Freedom Line, Onitsha Head Bridge Market.
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The agency’s Director-General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, was quoted in the statement as saying that the suspect was apprehended by officials from the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.
Triphon Point Global Limited, Emma Medicals Nigeria Limited, and Ekeh Mountain Global Ventures Limited, she said, had been raided by the officials at Bridge Head market in Onitsha.
The offending product was discovered in Triphon Point Global Limited, according to the DG, and the shop was placed on hold after the product was evacuated.
She went on to say that the shops were visited and thorough screening was done at Emma Medicals and Ekeh Mountain Global Ventures Limited.
She claimed, however, that while the offending product was not on the shelves of these stores, their sales records revealed that they all sold the unregistered item.
According to her, the three stores were put on hold, and their managing directors were summoned for further questioning, where they claimed that the product was obtained from a single Blessed OJ Don Global Link in the market.
The three suspects also said that if given the chance, they would help the agency apprehend Mr Obinna Igbo, the Managing Director of Blessed OJ Don Global Link, according to the DG.
According to her, all attempts to apprehend Igbo were futile because he was on the run, knowing he was being followed by NAFDAC, but he was eventually apprehended in Onisha using tracking devices.
“Under duress, Igbo admitted to being the importer of Amanta Forte Soft Gel, an illegal antimalarial drug he smuggled into Nigeria from Ghana.”
“The product was manufactured in India and marketed by Mitzaagold International FZE Amin Hussain market, AL Trade Zone, Dubai, UAE,” according to the date markings on the products.
“The suspect stated that he has other pharmaceutical products that he imported into the country, some of which are anti-hypertensive drugs,” Adeyeye said.
She added that the suspect admitted to selling the product to the shops visited by NAFDAC during the raid, and that he had pleaded not guilty before the Judge, with his lawyer, A.C Oforjiuba, making an oral bail application.
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Mrs Chinyere Okoli, the prosecuting attorney, requested that Adeyeye be remanded in custody pending trial, according to Adeyeye.
The case was later adjourned until June 6th, according to Adeyeye.
The offences, according to her, were in violation of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 2004’s Section 1(a).
She also claimed that the offences violated Section 1(1) of the Food, Drugs, and Related Products Registration Act of 2004.
