National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it has secured a judgement of three years jail term and a fine against a falsified drugs merchant at the Federal High Court, Kano, Kano State.
NAFDAC, in a statement yesterday, said a 41-year-old man, Innocent Oparah, Friday was sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine for endangering lives of innocent consumers through the circulation of fake drugs.
The Agency said it secured the conviction at the Federal High Court Kano presided over by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Mark, saying the convict was charged to court for labelling paracetamol as Quinine Sulphate & Nivaquine (Chloroquine) tablets at D222 Sabon Gari Market, Kano.
The convict, who was arrested on 20th October 2018 with some drug products, and Paracetamol label that was changed to Quinine and Nivaquine is also prosecuted for illegally labelling Quinine Sulphate and Nivaquine Chloroquine 100mg in a manner that was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5 (a) of the Food and drugs Act, Cap F32, LFN 2004 and punishable under section 17 of the same Act, said NAFDAC.
Meanwhile, the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Dr Tanko Sununu, had sponsored a bill at the National Assembly demanding for more punitive punishments for those involved in illicit and falsified drugs.
Commending the judiciary for the judgement meant to serve as deterrent to other criminally minded fake drug peddlers, director general, NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, reiterated her call for a review of the law to discourage Nigerians from going into the illicit business that is capable of compromising the health of the people.
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