Woman sentenced to 8 years in prison for running illegal pharmacies in Calabar.

By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

The Federal High Court in Calabar has sentenced businesswoman Ezea Isidora Kamchukwube to eight years in prison for running illegal pharmacies in the city and for impersonating a registered pharmacist, offences that foster quackery in the pharmaceutical sector.

Kamchukwube, a member of the National Association of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians of Nigeria (NAPTTON) and a resident of Etagbor Street, Calabar, was found guilty on five of the eight charges related to operating unregistered pharmaceutical premises and practicing as a registered pharmacist without the required qualifications.

The judgment, delivered by Hon. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, followed a Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) enforcement operation in Calabar in August 2024, which uncovered her illegal activities at two sites.

The indictment stated that she acted as a registered pharmacist, vendor, and pharmaceutical representative without proper registration, in violation of Section 52(2) of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2022.

Specifically, she was found to have managed “24 Hours Pharmaceuticals” on Marian Road, Calabar, and another pharmacy opposite Kokoz Cosmetics Shop on Abang Asang Street, Etta Agbor Road, Calabar, both without registration under the Act.

Additional accusations included allowing unqualified individuals to dispense drugs and knowingly dispensing medicines without valid licenses, contrary to relevant provisions of the Act. She was also found guilty of tampering with and breaking a regulatory seal placed on one of her illegal outlets by PCN.

Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, Alilu Kayode Esq., who prosecuted the case, said:

“This is a case of an individual operating pharmaceutical premises without registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria as required by law.”

“She also worked as a qualified pharmacist when she is not qualified.” He added that “the court found her guilty on five counts related to that non‑registration.”

“We were able to establish before the court that she was indeed unregistered,” he maintained.

Kayode noted that the punishment ranges from two years imprisonment to a fine. “There is a directive to locate her wherever she may be and hand her over to the correctional centre to serve her sentence,” he added.

Counsel for the defendant, Ekpe Esor Esq., declined to comment after the judgment.

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