Man bags 7-year imprisonment for packaging paracetamol tablets as anti-malarial drugs

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has secured the conviction of one Friday Ogbodo for distributing “falsified” drugs.

Olusayo Akintola, spokesperson for the agency, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Akintola said Ogbode was sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine by a federal high court in Awka, the Anambra capital.

According to the statement, Ogbodo was arrested by NAFDAC officials at his residence in Fegge, Onitsha, Anambra.

Akintola said Ogbodo was found to be involved in the distributing “falsified maldox (sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine), a brand of anti-malarial tablet manufactured by a registered Nigerian pharmaceutical company”.

The NAFDAC spokesman said Ogbodo confessed that he “used to cut Emzor paracetamol tablets and repackage them as maldox (sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine) and supplied the same to dealers in falsified medical products at the head bridge market, Onitsha”.

Akintola said the culprit confessed to have been in the business of adulterating medicines for more than a year, before he was charged to court.

Ogbodo was reportedly arraigned on January 26 before H.A. Nganjiwa on a two-count charge bordering on possession of fake maldox (sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine) and packaging of Emzor paracetamol tablets in a manner that is misleading.

He said after the convict pleaded guilty to the offences, he was sentenced to five years in prison on count 1 and two years in prison on count 2 without an option of fine.

The statement quoted Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC director-general, as saying the agency will continue to ensure that persons involved in such criminal acts are brought to book.

She also encouraged members of the public to assist the agency through the provision of useful information that would lead to the arrest of those involved in such crimes.

“I urge you and I also encourage you that when you see something, say something,” Adeyeye was quoted as saying.

“This is the only way we can collectively fight and win the battle against these merchants of death, who profiteer in circulating falsified and substandard medicines, at the detriment of the wellbeing of their fellow human beings.”