Operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control have arrested a 32-year-old businessman, Obinna Igbo, for alleged importation and sale of fake Amanta Forte, an unregistered anti-malarial drug.
Obinna was arraigned before a Federal High Court on four counts of unlawful importation, possession, sale, and distribution of fake Amanta Forte soft gel (Artemether 80mg + Lumefantrine 480mg Capsules) drug at Head Bridge Market Onitsha, Anambra State.
A statement by the Resident Media Consultant to NAFDAC, Sayo Akintola, in Lagos, said the defendant sold the fake drugs at Shop E200, Freedom Line, Onitsha Head Bridge Market after importing the consignment into the country.
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The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in her submissions, disclosed that officials of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of the Agency received intelligence on the importation and sale of the fake anti-malaria drug and swung into action immediately.
Three pharmaceutical outlets at Head bridge market Onitsha, namely, Triphon Point Global limited, Emma Medicals Nigeria Limited, and Ekeh Mountain Global Ventures Limited were raided and the offending product was found in Triphon Point Global Limited, and was evacuated.
She said that although the offending product was not found on their shelves, their sales books revealed that the product was sold by them.
The three shops were placed on hold while the managing directors were invited for further interrogation.
The three suspects were interrogated independently and their statements extracted.
They also admitted that they sourced the product from Mr. Obinna Igbo, Managing Director, Blessed OJ Don Global Link, in the market.
Prof. Adeyeye explained that efforts to arrest Mr. Igbo proved abortive. He was on the run, knowing that NAFDAC was trailing him. Still, the three suspects promised to assist the Agency in apprehending him if given the opportunity.
She further disclosed that a tracking device was engaged in tracking him down in Onitsha, Anambra State, where he was eventually arrested and taken into custody by the Investigation and Enforcement officers of NAFDAC in Asaba before he was later transferred to the Lagos office.
