National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, on Friday, arraigned three suspects before the Federal High Court in Kano, for manufacturing, distributing and selling falsified medicines for children.
The suspects are Amao Gideon, Alumona Okwiludili, Hillary Onah Chigozie and Giddyson Healthcare Limited.
When the case came up on Friday, prosecution counsel, Oche Abutu, standing in for the Federal Government on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation, slammed them with a five-count charge which borders on manufacturing fake drugs, being in possession, distributing and selling of falsified medicines.
However, the suspects pleaded not guilty.
Their lawyer, thereafter, applied for their bail.
But hearing the submissions from the prosecuting lawyer and counsel for the defendants, Justice Simon Amobeda turned down the bail request.
Amobeda fixed June 14 for the bail application and June 20 for the hearing.
Speaking to newsmen, the Director General of the agency, Mojisola Adeyeye, who the Kano State Coordinator represented, Kasim Ibrahim, said the syndicate has been involved in manufacturing and selling several falsified medicines, including Asian Ampicillin 125mg + Cloxacillin 125mg/5ml powder for oral suspension for children -Zero active ingredients.
Others are Asian Ampicillin 125 mg/5ml powder for suspension for children active ingredient, Erythromycin 125mg/5ml powder for suspension for children – Zero active ingredient and Artil-Go (Artemether 20 mg+ Lumefantrine 120 mg/5ml) powder for suspension for children –Zero active ingredients.
Adeyeye noted that all the drugs were mere powders without any active ingredients required for healing or curing a patient.
“For clarity, from the NAFDAC Kaduna Laboratory Services testing, there is no trace of medicine in the formulations. This puts the patient in danger of treatment failure and possible death.
“In addition, the products were not registered by NAFDAC, the numbers on the products are fake, so is the manufacturer’s address on the label,” she added.
She disclosed that NAFDAC had sealed the illegal factory which was located in Tafa town, Tafa local Government area of Niger State.
Adeyeye said the illicit trade was uncovered following information and a discrete investigation that led to the arrest of the suspects.
She craved the partnership of all well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of humanity in the fight against fraudsters, assuring that NAFDAC, under her leadership will maintain a zero-tolerance position on substandard and falsified medicine.
“We will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of those who chose to profit off our lives as a people because, in reality, they pose an existential threat to us and our loved ones,” she said.
