PCN Seals 600 Medicine Stores, Arrests Two For Violations: Kaduna

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria sealed 598 premises and arrested two vendors in Kaduna during a major enforcement drive targeting widespread violations of drug regulations and unsafe pharmaceutical practices.

Suleiman Chiroma, the PCN national head of enforcement, disclosed this on Friday in Kaduna.

Mr Chiroma said the operation, which began on Monday, covered Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Zaria, Makarfi, Kudan, Igabi, Chikun, Sabon Gari, Giwa, and Ikara council areas.

He said 828 premises were visited during the four-day exercise, including pharmacies, patent medicine stores, and unlicensed outlets.

Mr Chiroma explained that the 598 premises, which were sealed, comprised pharmacies, patent medicine stores, and all unlicensed premises identified. He said two vendors were arrested for gross violations of the PCN Act.

Mr Chiroma, however, said that only nine per cent of inspected premises were operating unlawfully, indicating improved regulatory compliance. He added that 28 per cent of the premises were fully compliant, while 45 per cent of pharmacies and 28 per cent of patent medicine shops met the required standards.

PCN

“The premises sealed were for offences including lack of valid licences, unauthorised clinical practices, improper stocking of medicines, illegal operations, restricted drug access breaches, and obstruction of inspectors,” Mr Chiroma said.

Speaking further, he explained that the operation targeted unsafe medicine handling and illegal practices threatening drug quality, potency, and therapeutic effectiveness across the supply chain.

He added that the exercise forms part of efforts to eliminate substandard and falsified medicines while safeguarding public health and safety.

ICPC: Woman Jailed For Forging NAFDAC Employment Letter To Obtain UK Visa

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of one Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi for forging employment documents of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to facilitate a fraudulent visa application.

The conviction followed investigations into a visa fraud scheme in which the defendant falsely presented herself as an employee of NAFDAC, using forged employment and promotion letters, an identity card, and an introduction letter purportedly issued by the agency.

The case, filed under Charge No. ID/27346C/2025 (FRN v. Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi), originated from a petition by the British Deputy High Commission that exposed a visa racketeering syndicate allegedly led by Olusegun Ojo Adigun.

Further investigations by the Commission revealed that the syndicate was linked to at least sixteen visa applications and specialised in facilitating travel to the United Kingdom using falsified supporting documents.

At the centre of the case was the defendant’s deliberate misrepresentation of her employment status.

Findings established that she was never employed by NAFDAC, rendering all documents attributed to the agency, false and misleading.

In addition to the forged NAFDAC documents, the defendant also submitted a falsified bank statement allegedly issued by Chanelle Microfinance Bank for the period of January to July 2025. Investigations, however, confirmed that she did not operate any account with the bank.

Following the investigation, the defendant was charged with a six-count charge bordering on forgery and provision of false information, contrary to Sections 13 and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The matter was heard before Honourable Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Court 13.

During proceedings, the defendant, through her counsel, Grace Adenubi (Esq.), sought a plea bargain arrangement, which was agreed to by the Commission.

The charge was subsequently amended to a one-count information, to which she pleaded guilty.

The prosecution team—Yvonne William-Mbata, Roseline Eze, and Oluwayemisi Pereira—presented evidence through an investigator, Onyemauchechukwu Ezike, who tendered documentary exhibits before the court.

Woman Jailed For Forging NAFDAC Employment Letter

In her judgment, Justice Dada sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment, with an option of a fine of ₦500,000 payable to the Federal Government within seven days. The court further ordered two days of community service to be carried out outside the court premises and directed the defendant to enter into a bond of good behaviour to be recorded in the Lagos State Judiciary database.

The conviction highlights the Commission’s resolve to clamp down on the falsification of official documents, particularly the impersonation of government institutions such as NAFDAC for fraudulent purposes.

J. Okor Odey
Head, Media & Public Communications, ICPC.

Mamman Fails To File Final Written Address In Alleged N33.8b Fraud

Proceedings were stalled in the trial of the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman on Thursday, April 16, 2026 as he could not file his final written address before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

Mamman is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a 12-count charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-three Kobo).

EFCC

At Thursday’s proceeding which was for adoption of final written addresses, Mamman through his counsel Femi Atteh, SAN, acknowledged the receipt of the final written address of the prosecution but drew the court’s attention to his motion filed on April 1, 2026 seeking for extension of time to enable him file his own final written address. With no objection from the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the court obliged him.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till April 23, 2026 for adoption of final written addresses.