A Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced businesswoman Ezea Isidora Kamchukwube to two years in prison for operating unregistered pharmaceutical premises and illegally practising as a pharmacist, in violation of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act. The conviction, delivered by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in absentia, followed a trial on charges filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Charge No. FHC/CA/76C/2025, relating to offences committed in August 2024. The court found Kamchukwube guilty on five counts, including operating unlicensed pharmacies and dispensing medicines without proper qualifications or regulatory approval.
The prosecution, led by Aliyu Okayode, Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, presented evidence showing that Kamchukwube ran two pharmaceutical outlets without registration from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. One outlet, named 24 Hours Pharmaceuticals, was located along Marian Road, while the other was situated opposite Kokoz Cosmetics Shop on Abang Asang Street, Etta Agbor Road. Both premises were found to be operating outside the legal framework established by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022.
Okayode emphasized that Kamchukwube was not registered as a pharmacist and had no valid licence to dispense medicines or operate pharmaceutical facilities. He stated that the prosecution successfully proved she acted as a qualified pharmacist despite lacking the necessary credentials. The court also found that she tampered with enforcement measures by breaking the seal and lock placed on one of her premises by the regulatory body, further violating the law.
The sentencing included a two-year imprisonment term, with the court declaring Kamchukwube a fugitive and ordering security agencies to arrest and deliver her to correctional authorities upon apprehension. Okayode confirmed that the authorities have been directed to locate and apprehend her, ensuring the sentence is enforced. The punishment also allows for an alternative fine, but the primary directive is for her immediate detention.
Counsel to the defendant, Ekpe Esor, did not comment on the judgment and refrained from addressing journalists after the proceedings. The case underscores the government’s commitment to enforcing pharmaceutical regulations and protecting public health by cracking down on unlicensed practitioners and unregistered drug outlets. This ruling sends a strong message to others in the sector about the consequences of operating outside legal and professional standards.
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