Pharmacist arrested for forging NAFDAC documents

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested a middle-aged man, superintendent pharmacist, (names withheld) for allegedly forging the agency’s pharmaceuticals importation documents.

Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, who disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday in Lagos, said the 1985 graduate of Pharmacy was nabbed for allegedly forging the agency’s permit for importation of Pacsone and Maitidine injections and NAFDAC’s notification of registration letters for Azithromycin 250mg with NAFDAC Registration Number (NRN) A4-8455, Pacsone Dexamethasone 0.5mg tablet with NRN A4-8483, Pacsone Dexamethasone 1mg tablet with NRN A4-8452, Pacmai Extra capsules with NRN A4-8452, and Sugarita granules 15g with NRN 8335L.

Orhii, who was represented by NAFDAC’s Director of Enforcement, Mr. Garuba McDonalds, said the following documents were discovered and retrieved from the suspect’s office during the course of investigation: seven bank drafts raised in favour of NAFDAC, one having a date as late as July, 2011, totaling N2.518 million which was never paid to the agency; a booklet of forged NAFDAC payment advice; forged NAFDAC letter headed papers; filled application forms for registration of three products having fake NAFDAC numbers which were never submitted for processing; and blank NAFDAC notification letters of registration.

McDonalds claimed that the pharmacist admitted to have forged the documents without the knowledge of the company he represents. But the suspect, who was paraded at the press conference, refused to speak to journalists. He, however, did not refute NAFDAC’s claims but rather said he would only speak at the appropriate time.

_____________

By Chukwuma Muanya

Source: The Guardian