NAFDAC seized over N12 billion counterfeit drugs in 2016, says DG

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), has assured that the presidency will, with his key-in, give assent to the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Food (Misc. Provision) Act Cap C34 LFN 2004, currently undergoing amendment at the National Assembly.

  He gave this assurance to the acting Director-General of National Agency for Food Drug and Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Yetunde Oni, who paid a visit to the AGF at the Ministry, in Abuja.

  The Minister said the bill will be given assent to against its background and and substance when it is eventually passed to the presidency for acceptance.

  Oni, while addressing the minister, revealed that NAFDAC has, in the last one year, seized counterfeit drugs and unwholesome regulated products worth more than N12 billion while N2.3 billion worth of counterfeit regulated products have been destroyed. 

  The acting Director-General also said NAFDAC has instituted 52 cases and secured eight convictions from February 2016 till date.

  Mrs. Oni explained that seizure of counterfeit medicine from a single suspect in particular, worth N10 billion, remains the biggest NAFDAC has recorded in recent time.

  Meanwhile, a charge has been filed against the suspect before a Federal High Court in Lagos. The drugs seized from the warehouse of the suspect included Tarivid 200mg tablet, Augmentin 625mg tablet, Proviron tablet, Novasc tablet, Glucophase 500mg tablet, GSK Hologram for Loparex, Ciprotab, Lexotan, Septrin packaging materials, Ampiclox packaging materials, Cytotec 200mcg, Misoprostol, and some others.

  While majority of the cases are handled by the in-house lawyer of NAFDAC, Oni  informed that some high profile cases are firmed out in order to maintain an objective presentation on it.

  "Some external solicitors have concluded a number of cases for us but are yet to be paid. While NAFDAC desires to pay the professional fees of gentlemen of the bar who have used their resources to handled these cases, we are however bound to comply with your directives and approval before making any of such payment," Oni said to the AGF.

  She said the Agency has forwarded applications to the office of the Minister of Justice between April and November 2016 and used the opportunity to requested for a special approval to pay the external solicitors.

  Oni added that one of the technical legislations for regulatory activities of the agency identified as: "Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Food (Misc. Provision) Act Cap C34 LFN 2004, is currently undergoing amendment at the National Assembly. She thereby sought the assistance of the AGF on seeing it to fruition.

  The AGF, while describing the legislation before the National Assembly as timely and important, declared his commitment to working in harmony with the National Assembly to do whatever it takes to ensure passage of the bill.

  Responding to the request for payment of lawyers who have worked with the Agency on its cases, he informed the NAFDAC acting DG that a lot of abuses were responsible for the bureaucratic demands that sought into the issues that had to do with the payment of vocational fees for the lawyers. 

  He, however, noted that, "the government has noted with displeasure the abuses that relate to compromise of judgment in the matter" and the payments will be looked into.