Calabar Woman Jailed 8 Years for Running Unlicensed Pharmacy

The Federal High Court in Calabar has handed down an 8-year prison sentence to Ezea Isidora Kamchukwube for operating pharmacies without registration. Kamchukwube was charged with operating pharmacies without proper licensing, contrary to the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022. The court case, with the charge number FHC/CA/76C/2025, was between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the defendant. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu delivered the judgment, finding Kamchukwube guilty of practicing as a registered pharmacist without being registered, as stated in Section 32(2) of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2022. Justice Ojukwu noted that officials from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria had sealed two of Kamchukwube's pharmacies after a routine inspection but that she later unsealed them and continued operations. This action was deemed a violation of Sections 32(2), 54(1), 54(2), and 53(d) of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022. The Deputy Director of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, Aliyu Okayode, who represented the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stated that the judgment aims to curb individuals operating pharmaceutical premises without the required registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. 'The charges against her were for practicing pharmacy without proper registration and license under the law. We were able to establish before the court that she was indeed unregistered, and the court sentenced her for not complying,' he said. Kamchukwube's counsel, Ekpe Esor Esq., declined to comment on the issue and did not interact with journalists present in the court.