Court Jails Illegal Pharmacy Operators as PSN Raises Alarm Over Fake Drug Crisis

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has commended two Federal High Court judgments convicting operators of illegal pharmaceutical facilities, describing the rulings as a significant step in the fight against fake drugs and quackery in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

In a statement signed by its President, Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, the society said the judgments delivered in Ibadan and Calabar mark a milestone in strengthening pharmacy regulation and enforcement across the country.

The PSN praised the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) for sustained enforcement actions against illegal drug operators despite persistent challenges in the sector.

According to the society, the Federal High Court in Ibadan sentenced an unregistered patent medicine vendor on May 26, 2026, while the Calabar court jailed an unlicensed pharmacy operator alongside three others for operating illegal pharmaceutical premises and employing unqualified personnel.

The PSN described the rulings as historic, saying they would boost public confidence in efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s drug distribution system.

It warned that illegal operators often falsely claim medical training or hospital experience, putting public health at serious risk through unsafe drug dispensing practices.

The society stressed that such activities violate Nigeria’s drug and pharmacy laws, including provisions of the Fake Drug Act, which prohibits the sale and distribution of medicines in unauthorised locations such as markets, kiosks and motor parks.

It further reiterated that only the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria is legally empowered to license pharmaceutical premises and regulate drug dispensing activities nationwide.

The PSN called for continued collaboration between regulatory agencies, law enforcement and the judiciary to curb the spread of counterfeit drugs and strengthen public health safety.