Calabar woman gets eight years for running illegal pharmacies

The Federal High Court in Calabar has sentenced Ezea Kamchukwube to eight years in prison for running two unregistered pharmacies in Calabar, Cross River State.

Ezea faced charges for operating pharmacies without registration and allowing untrained people to dispense drugs. This is against the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022.

The case was filed under Charge No: FHC/CA/76C/2025. The case was between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Ezea Kamchukwube.

On Monday, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu found Ezea guilty. She operated “24 Hours Pharmaceuticals” on Marian Road and another pharmacy opposite Kokoz Cosmetics Shop on Abang Asang Street, Etta-Agbor Road, Calabar.

Justice Ojukwu said, “That you, Ezea Isidora Kamchukwube, female, adult, businesswoman, did practise in the capacity of a registered pharmacist, vendor and pharmaceutical representative while not being registered, contrary to Section 32(2) of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2022.”

The judge noted that Pharmacy Council officials sealed both pharmacies after a routine inspection. Ezea later unsealed them and continued to operate.

The court ruled that her actions broke Sections 32(2), 54(1), 54(2), and 53(d) of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022. She was sentenced to eight years in prison for these violations.

Aliyu Okayode, Deputy Director of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, represented the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He said the judgement aims to stop people from operating pharmacies without registration as required by law.

“The charges of practising pharmacy without proper registration and a licence under the law were brought against her. That is why we are here. That is the charge before the court.

“We were able to establish before the court that she was indeed unregistered. And the court sentenced her for not complying,” he added.

On the other hand, Ezea's lawyer, Ekpe Esor, refused to comment on the matter. He also turned down requests for interviews from journalists present in court.