By Chioma Obinna
LAGOS—A registered pharmacist with Pharmacist Council of Nigeria and a member of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Benneth Okolie, has been arrested for forgery of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s, NAFDAC’s documents to import pharmaceuticals.

The suspect, a 1995 graduate of the University of Benin and currently the Superintendent Pharmacist of PACCMAI International, Olodi,  Apapa, was also said to have forged NAFDAC’s permit for importation of the following pharmaceutical products, Pacsone Injection and Maitidine Injection, NAFDAC notification of registration letters for Azithromycin 250mg,  Pacsone Dexamethasone 0.5 mg tablet, A48483, Pacsone Dexamethasone 1mg tablet and Pacmai Extra capsules and Sugrita granules 15g.

Okolie was arrested while trying to import pharmaceutical products with his company using fake NAFDAC’s system permit.

Luck ran out of him, when the India Company questioned the authenticity of the document, resulting in the Managing Director of PACCMAI International launching an investigation at NAFFDAC, where it was discovered that the system permit was fake.

According to officials of the agency, recovered from the suspect in the course of investigation were seven bank drafts raised in favour of NAFDAC, one dated  July, 2011 worth N2.5 million, which was never paid to the agency; a booklet of forged NAFDAC payment advice; forged NAFDAC letter headed paper; filled application forms for registration of three products having fake NAFDAC numbers and Blank NAFDAC notification letters of registration.

The suspect, it was gathered, had admitted to forging the documents without the knowledge of the company he represents.

Briefing journalists in Lagos, Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, who spoke through the Director of Enforcement, Mr Mac Garba, said  the registration numbers ascribed to the products by Okolie were far above what the Agency had registered so far.