NAFDAC Seeks Life Sentence for Drug Counterfeiters

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said it has presented a Bill, seeking life sentence for drug offenders and counterfeiters.

Acting Director General of NAFDAC, Mr. Ademola Magbojuri, who stated this in Lagos last Wednesday at a press briefing, said this is one sure way for the fight against fake drugs in Nigeria, to be successful.

Magbojuri said the Bill to review the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap C34 Laws of the Federation 2004, had last November, scaled through the third reading stage at the Senate.

He therefore, urged the House of Representatives to hasten the passage of the Bill.

The NAFDAC boss disclosed that, the agency is involved in the prosecution of over 64 counterfeit/ fake NAFDAC regulated products cases across the country.

“As part of our renewed effort to rid the country of counterfeit medical products, the agency has been carrying out coordinated nationwide enforcement operations in different parts of the country, where large consignments of the counterfeit medical products and drinks were impounded.

“Surveillance and enforcement operations at our ports, borders and identified routes used by smugglers, have been intensified leading to increased seizures of fake NAFDAC regulated products.

“Besides, very soon, importation and marketing of fake and substandard drugs will become capital punishment offence.

“Honestly speaking, bringing in fake drugs, is as bad as an armed robber shooting at a person. So if an armed robber could be sentenced to death, I do not see why somebody who is involved in illegal or fake drug business, should not be sentenced to death.

“The Bill to this effect has already scaled through at the Senate, I think it is before House of Representatives now, and I believe that in a short period of time, it will be pass and be sent to President Buhari for his assent", he revealed.

He further revealed that, on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, the Agency secured five years conviction against one Kenneth Chibukola Chiekwe, who imported fake cough syrup.

“The convict was convicted under Section 1 (a) of counterfeit and fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods (miscellaneous provisions) Act Cap 34 LLNP 2004 and punishable under Section 3 (1) (a) of same Act”, he stated.

Magbojuri listed other recent convictions secured by NAFDAC for fake drug manufacturers or peddlers, to include that of Sylvanus Ifeanyi Nwanoro and Osita Paul Ely who bagged five years each, Clara Onah, who bagged seven years, Okwara Emmanuel, who got three years and Oyibo Juliana Madu who got an option of N55,000 fine, for the sale of unregistered wines.

NAFDAC Director of Investigation & Enforcement, Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor, urged the public to spread the message on the danger of counterfeit drugs.

Ejiofor identified several constraints faced by the Agency, including the incessant transfer of investigating police officers involved in prosecuting offenders.

“Sometimes when they transfer them, to get them to come back to prosecute is a problem. Another one is when suspects are granted bail; some of them jump bail and are never found again.

Ejiofor encouraged firms, to include NAFDAC in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.

“We need all the support we can get, such as vehicles to convey people, materials etc”, he said.